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

• Main Authors: Laurent A. SAGARRA, Charles VINCENT, Robin K. STEWART
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2000-10-01
• Series: European Journal of Entomology
• Subjects: anagyrus kamali; encyrtidae; parasitoid; maconellicoccus hirsutus; hibiscus mealybug; pseudococcidae; storage; fecundity; survival; egg load
• Online Access: https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200002-0009_Fecundity_and_survival_of_Anagyrus_kamali_Hymenoptera_Encyrtidae_under_different_feeding_and_storage_tempera.php

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°C in absence of hosts and fed ad libitum with droplets of pure honey. At a storage temperature of 27 ± 2°C the longevity decreased by about 10 days. Fed females did not resorb eggs during the first two weeks of storage at 20 ± 2°. Parasitoid ovogenesis ceased when ovarioles/lateral oviducts were full. The lifetime fecundity was not significantly affected by a storage at 20 ± 2°C of up to 14 days. Foraging activities and oviposition were the main factors influencing the lifespan of female A. kamali.