Abstract:

The egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid. The effect of superparasitism on the development of C. oculator was investigated on a host, Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) at 25 °C, 60%-70% R.H., and 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod. The development time of C. oculator from egg to adult was related to parasitism level from 42.5 ± 0.19 days under single parasitism to 48.4 ± 0.57 days under triple parasitism. The emergence rate of the parasitoid decreased as the parasitism level increased. In addition, the dry mass of adult parasitoid was significantly affected by the superparasitism. Consequently, for C. oculator developing in the host Cadra cautella, superparasitism has a negative effect on the quality of mass reared Chelonus wasps.

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