Two Artemia populations, a bisexual from San Francisco Bay (California, USA) and a parthenogenetic from Tanggu area (Tianjin province, People's Republic of China) are assayed for their tolerance and fitness in various salinity levels . This study was carried out under laboratory conditions where salinity effects upon special characteristics of the two Artemia populations, such as survival, growth rate, maturation, morphology, fecundity and life duration, were recorded . This evaluation revealed that the two populations examined exhibit significant differences in their response against elevated salinity levels . Furthermore, specific biometric parameters can be a useful tool for the discrimination and/or determination of their distribution in a mixed population, which, in fact, is the case in Tanggu salt works. Artemia franciscana seems to be a more effective colonizer at higher salinities . The data presented in this study may generate useful suggestions for proper management of the solar saltworks at Tanggu although further experimentation is needed .

Different densities prerelease packing and times of lethargy in the fruit fly parasitoids Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) were evaluated in order to standardize the process of chilled insect technique for this species. Adults were kept at densities of 0.048, 0.072, 0.096, 0.120, and 0.144 parasitoids/cm2 before release in a México tower, where thermal lethargy was induced at a temperature of 2 ± 2°C for 45 min. Samples of parasitoids were collected to evaluate mortality, survival, fecundity, and flight capacity. All densities showed a similar mortality, both for males (ca. >10%) and females (ca. <7). There was no effect of density on survival and flight capacity in both sexes. On the other hand, fecundity increased with density, 1.66 sons/♀/day, similar to the control. We conclude that a density of 30,000 pupae per cage (0.144 parasitoids/cm2) is adequate for the massive prerelease packaging of the parasitoid D. longicaudata. Regarding the thermal lethargy period, 180 min under 2 ± 2°C conditions, considered as time for management, does not affect the survival, fecundity, and flight capacity of adults. The results obtained are of great utility to establish prerelease packaging parameters for D. longicaudata used in the biological control of Tephritidae fruit fly populations.

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary parasitoid used in augmentative releases to control Tephritidae (Diptera) fruit flies of economic importance. Pre-release process includes packing adult parasitoids in cages at high densities and expose them to a temperature of 2 AE 2°C during 105 min. In this process, females' antennae may be damaged resulting in a reduction in their host-searching ability and fecundity. Here we measured, for five consecutive days after chilling, the searching ability and fecundity of parasitoids with damaged (D) and undamaged (ND) antennae compared with parasitoids that were not chilled. Female individual responses to fruit infested by Anastrepha spp. was determined in an olfactometer. Latency in the response and latency in making a choice were recorded. Additionally, groups of 30 females were used to measure their ability to find hosts in infested fruit in the laboratory. Fecundity was determined by using artificial oviposition units with Anastrepha ludens (Loew) larvae. In the olfactometer test, ND had lower response than control females during the 1st and 2nd days after chilling. However, no difference in the response was observed between ND and D and the control females on the 5th day. Additionally, chilled females showed a longer latency of response to infested fruit than females of the control treatment when tested in groups. However, after a 24-48 h period, no difference between D and ND and control females was observed. Our results showed similar searching ability and fecundity among parasitoids of the three tested conditions at individual and at group levels. We conclude that pre-release chilling reduces female searching ability only for the first 1-2 days after chilling.