Eco-Geographical Components of Natural Population Variability of Ectoparasites Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Abstract

The article presents original data on the specific development of geographically distant populations of Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836). We compared two populations from different ecological niches in Ukraine, Kiev, and Uzbekistan, Tashkent. In particular, their physiological processes, morphological features, and behavioral characteristics were studied. It has been established that there is a significant difference between populations by the following criteria: performance of the reproductive system, duration of life of females, sex ratio, linear sizes of imago and cocoon, the color of imago, motor activity, and the nature of oviposition. According to our observations, local populations are ecologically plastic with high adaptive characteristics. The outlandish population was marked by a violation of the physiological state. At the same time, as our studies have shown, it is quite expedient and promising to carry out the selection of geographically distant populations of ectoparasites to improve the technological and physiological characteristics of hybrids.

Keywords

• entomophagous mass breeding
• ecosystem
• adaptation
• intraspecific changes
• endogenous and exogenous factors
• selection