Performance of Trissolcus semistriatus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Dolycoris baccarum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) eggs stored at -20°C

Abstract

A project was carried out between 2004 and 2008 in order to improve the mass production of an egg parasitoid Trissolcus semistriatus Nees (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) of Sunn pest, which is important pest on wheat fields, in the laboratory conditions in Antalya Batı Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute. Dolycoris baccarum L. (Heteroptera:Pentatomidae) which is the alternative host of T. semistriatus was reared in insectarium and the produced eggs were stored in eppendorph tubes for 12 months at -20°C. Monthly parasitism performance of T. semistriatus was evaluated. The parasitism ratio was 27.08-89.64 %; adult emergence ratio was 58.92-87.34 %; the sex ratio was 0.37-0.61; development period was 10.16-14.65 days for males and 11.67-15.38 days for females, the life span of males was 7.73-13.50, and 6.25-13.98 days for females. The longevity of males and females were 7.73-13.50 and 6.25-13.98 days respectively. According to the results, it was suggested that D. baccarum eggs stored up to 7 months at -20°C would be convenient for mass production of T. semistriatus due to the parasitism ratio was 51.63 % and hatching ratio of parasitoids was 72.47 % in these eggs.

Keywords

• Sunn pest
• Storage
• -20°C
• Dolycoris baccarum
• Trissolcus semistriatus