Tendency and consequences of superparasitism for the parasitoid Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in parasitizing a new laboratory host, Philosamia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

The tendency for self-superparasitism and it's effects on the quality of the parasitoid Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in parasitizing a new laboratory host, Philosamia ricini (Danovan) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), were investigated. In this study, female parasitoids of various ages (1-, 3- and 5-day-old) were tested individually. Parasitoids were provided with 1-day-old P. ricini eggs at ratios of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 host eggs per wasp. The tendency to superparasitize was dependent on the female's age and host density. Five-day-old females showed a strong tendency to superparasitize at low host densities. The development time of wasps in superparasitized eggs was longer than that of wasps in singly parasitized eggs. The size and longevity of adult parasitoids decreased significantly with superparasitism. This work contributes to the development of an efficient mass rearing and laboratory rearing of the parasitoid O. pityocampae using a new host.

Keywords

• hymenoptera
• encyrtidae
• ooencyrtus pityocampae
• lepidoptera
• saturniidae
• philosamia ricini
• self-superparasitism
• host density
• female age
• offspring fitness