Fecundity and survival of Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) under different feeding and storage temperature conditions

摘要

The parasitoid, Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), has been recently introduced into the Caribbean as a biological control agent against the hibiscus mealybug (HMB), Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Storage of A. kamali that is essential for its use in biological control did not affect the longevity of female and male parasitoids (40.3 +- 14.07 and 31.7+- 9.57 days, respectively) when kept at 20 +- 2 deg C in absence of hosts and fed ad libitum with droplets of pure honey. At a storage temperature of 27 +- 2 deg C the longevity decreased by about 10 days. Fed females did not resorb eggs during the first two weeks of storage at 20 +- 2 deg C. Parasitoid ovogenesis cased when ovarioles/lateral oviducts were full. The lifetime fecundity was not significantly affected by a storage at 20 +- 2 deg C of up to 14 days. Foraging activities and oviposition were the main factors influencing the lifespan of female A. kamali.