Effect of Diet, Photoperiod and Host Density on Parasitism of <i>Anisopteromalus calandrae</i> on the Tobacco Beetle and Biological Parameters of the Parasitoid

Abstract

Lasioderma serricorne is known to be pest of tobacco, besides of attacking other products in storage. Anisopteromalus calandrae is an ectoparasitoid of coleopteran larvae also parasitizing the tobacco beetle. This study was aimed to evaluate the parasitism of A. calandrae on different densities of L. serricorne larvae grown in different diets and photoperiods, and to record the longevity and reproductive potential of A. calandrae. Individuals of L. serricorne were raised in three diets: wheat flour (F); wheat flour and brewer's yeast (FY) and wheat flour and dried tobacco (FT). Different amounts of host larvae (10, 20, 50 and 100) for each diet were exposed to a couple of parasitoids. The same larval densities from diet F were exposed for 24 h to a couple of adult parasitoids maintained in three photoperiods (0:24, 12:12 and 24:0 -scotophase: photophase). The highest values of apparent parasitism were in the density of 50 larvae in the FY diet (96.34%) and 100 F (92.91%). There was no significant difference in the parameters in each photoperiod in all larval densities. However, the treatment in which hosts and parasitoids always remained in scotophase, was the one that had a significantly higher sex ratio. Females had longer longevity than males surviving for up to 25 days. On the fourth day of larvae exposure occurred, the maximum number of offspring generated. It is inferred that A. calandrae has potential to be used as a control agent for coleopterans that attack stored products.

Influence of Temperature, Photoperiod, and Supplementary Nutrition on the Development and Reproduction of Scutellista caerulea Fonscolombe (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

“…Another important factor for parasitoid development and reproduction is photoperiod [ 39 , 40 ]. This study demonstrated that the oviposition of S. caerulea was positively correlated with the length of the daily light time.…”

Unveiling the hidden threat: Lasioderma serricorne infestation in Vermicelli and parasitic behaviour of Anisopteromalus calandrae

“…On oat grains and wheat germ, respectively, the relative weight reduction percentages peaked at 30.15 and 24.04 percent (El-Fouly et al, 2021). Apparent parasitism of A. calandrae on L. serricorne was recorded 92-96 % by Zilch et al (2017). According to Guo et al (2021), the parasitism rate of A. calandrae against L. serricorne grub rise both with an increase in larval age and a host to prey ratio.…”

“…offspring of host and parasitoid emerged from it. Apparent parasitism was calculated as formula given by Zilch et al (2017).…”