Life Table and Intrinsic Rate of Increase in Apanteles Agilis Ashmead, a Larval Parasitoid of Diaphania Pulverulentalis (Hampson).

Abstract

Life table and intrinsic rate of increase have been studied in Apanteles agilisAshmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of Diaphaniapulverulentalis (Hampson). The longevity of ovipositing females of A. agilis, rangedfrom 6 to 8 days (mean 7.4 days). The number of progeny produced averaged 47.3(range 40 – 53) individuals. The male : female offsprings averaged 1 : 1.529 (range 1: 1.208 – 2.00). The first adult mortality was on the fifth day. Average length ofimmature stages of parasitoid was 16 days. The maximum progeny productionper day, (mx) was 12.7 on third day and reproduction stopped on seventh day. Theintrinsic rate of increase (rm) per female per day was 0.180 and population multiplied27.94 times in mean generation time ‘T’ of 18.50 days.