Effect of Temperature on Life History and Parasitization Behavior of Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract

Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is currently used as biological control agent for several lepidopteran pests. Knowledge of thermal requirements is essential to optimize its rearing procedures and inundative releases. The biological characteristics and two-sex life table parameters of T. achaeae were determined at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. T. achaeae was able to develop and survive from 15 °C to 30 °C, but not at 35 °C. Temperature significantly affected the preadult development time and adult longevity, decreasing when temperature increased from 15 °C to 30 °C. Temperature significantly altered the sex ratio, being female biased between 15 °C and 25 °C. Age-stage, two-sex life table analysis indicated that net reproductive rate (R0) was highest at 20 °C. Both the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) increased with increasing temperature, while the mean generation time (T) decreased significantly. In addition, functional response of T. achaeae was studied, being significantly affected by temperature and host egg density, displaying a Holling type-I at 15 °C and a Holling type-II at 25 °C. The relevance of these results is discussed for the use of T. achaeae as biological control agent.

Temperature Affects Biological Control Efficacy: A Microcosm Study of Trichogramma achaeae

“…Knowing how laboratory measurement of performance links to field efficacy may enhance quality control for BCAs and guide field applications. Previous studies on laboratory performance of T. achaeae demonstrated that several life history parameters (longevity, developmental time, sex ratio, body size, and fecundity) were strongly affected by temperature [ 24 , 31 ], and that fecundity best represented the overall laboratory performance [ 24 ]. In the microcosm study presented here, we show that the realised parasitisation ability in a microcosm was significantly influenced by temperature, similarly to that found for fecundity [ 24 ].…”

Photoperiod‐independent diapause‐inducing thermal response of Trichogramma larvae: Pattern and mechanisms

“…The lower temperature threshold for T. telengai pre-imaginal development obtained in our experiments (about 5°C) is lower than those observed in other Trichogramma species: about 8°C for T. brassicae (Negahban et al, 2021), 9-12°C for T. chilonis (Haile et al, 2002;Ghosh et al, 2017), 9.2°C for T. evanescens (Haile et al, 2002), 9.3°C for T. cordubensis (Ghosh et al, 2017), 10°C for T. buesi (Reznik et al, 2009), 10-11°C for T. pretiosum and T. annulata (Maceda et al, 2003;de Oliveira et al, 2017;Zuim et al, 2017), 10.3-14.5°C for T. japonicum (Ruan et al, 2018;Ghosh et al, 2017), about 10.5°C for T. achaeae (del Pino et al, 2020), 10.7°C for T. ostriniae (Wang et al, 2004), 11.8°C for T. turkestanica and T. principium (Hansen, 2000;Reznik & Voinovich, 2015), 12.0°C for T. kaykai (Hohmann & Luck, 2000) and 13.6°C for T. galloi (Cônsoli & Parra, 1995). This difference can be possibly explained by that the studied strain of T. telengai originated from Moscow province, which is far to the north of geographic ranges of above listed species.…”

“…Effects of temperature on various biological parameters of Trichogramma wasps were investigated by many authors (e.g. Chen et al, 2021;Cônsoli & Parra, 1995;Firake & Khan, 2014;Haile et al, 2002;Hansen, 2000;Hohmann & Luck, 2000;Negahban et al, 2021;de Oliveira et al, 2017;del Pino et al, 2020;Reznik & Voinovich, 2015;Ruan et al, 2018;Ghosh et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2004;Zuim et al, 2017). In particular, it is known that facultative (winter) pre-pupal diapause is induced by low temperature experienced by Trichogramma embryos and larvae.…”

Biological Control Options for the Golden Twin-Spot Moth, Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Banana Crops of the Canary Islands

“…chalcites eggs in Madeira, Azores, and Canary Islands [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Among them, T. achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti has been reported as the most important species in the main banana-producing islands of the Canary archipelago [ 33 ], showing high potential as a biological control agent [ 34 ]. However, no studies have been published yet on the potential T. achaeae releases to suppress Ch.…”