Diurnal rhythms of emergence host feeding and oviposition of <i>Eretmocerus warrae</i> (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae)

Abstract

Eretmocerus warrae is a parasitoid of greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum It was first detected in New Zealand in 1997 during a survey of greenhouses in Auckland In the laboratory at 221C 605 RH and 168 h lightdark significantly higher adult emergence occurred after 23 h of light No emergence was observed during the scotophase Host feeding and oviposition occurred in both the photophase and scotophase In the photophase host feeding by E warrae tended to be higher after 46 h of light than at other stages of photophase In the scotophase the number of hosts fed on by E warrae was significantly higher 2 h before lights came on The number of eggs laid was significantly higher 1014 h into the photophase than at other stages There tended to be higher oviposition in the first 2 h of darkness

Insight into the success of whitefly biological control using parasitoids: evidence from theEretmocerus warrae−Trialeurodes vaporariorumsystem

“…The parasitoids were allowed to stay in the Petri dish for 24 h, after which time they were removed. Host feeding was determined by observation of body fluid effused as a result of penetration of the female ovipositor into the vasiform orifice of host nymphs under a stereomicroscope (Leica MZ12, Germany). All experimental parasitoids were used only once.…”

Host feeding and oviposition strategy of <i>Eretmocerus warrae</i> (Aphelinidae Hymenoptera) under different host densities

“…This process was repeated until she died. As E. warrae place their eggs between the venter of nymphs and leaf surface (Hanan et al 2009;2010), all nymphs were turned over to determine the presence or absence of eggs under the stereomicroscope (Leica MZ12, Germany). The daily and life time oviposition and host feeding patterns were determined by counting the numbers of eggs laid and hosts fed upon by the parasitoid.…”

Effect of food supply on reproductive potential of <i>Eretmocerus warrae</i> (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae)

“…This process was repeated until she died. As E. warrae place their eggs between the venter of whitefly nymphs and leaf surface (Hanan et al 2009), all nymphs were turned over to determine the presence or absence of eggs under the stereomicroscope (Leica MZ12, German). The oviposition and host feeding patterns were determined by counting the numbers of eggs laid and hosts fed upon by the parasitoid.…”