Effect of supplementary nutrition on the reproduction and mating behaviour of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

To improve the mass production of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) the effects of supplementary nutrition on its reproduction and mating behaviour were investigated using Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larva as a host. The survival of mated male wasps was markedly prolonged after feeding with five different types of nutrients and that of unmated males was markedly prolonged except when provided with yeast solution. Providing female wasps with supplementary nutrition did not affect their longevity. When H. hebetor reproduced sexually and was supplied with an abundance of hosts, females produced 101.0 and 96.7 female offspring, respectively, when fed 20% sucrose or 20% honey solutions, however, when provided with only ten hosts the provision of supplementary nutrition did not affect the number of female offspring they produced. The 20% maltose, 20% sucrose and 20% honey solutions significantly promoted the courtship behaviour of male wasps, and the 20% yeast and 20% honey solutions increased the mating success of males paired with virgin females.

Keywords

• hymenoptera
• braconidae
• habrobracon hebetor
• parasitoid
• supplementary nutrition
• reproductive efficiency
• mating ability
• plodia interpunctella
• natural enemy