Potential for lab rearing of Apanteles taragamae, the larval endoparasitoid of coconut pest Opisina arenosella, on the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica

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Date

2007

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Abstract

A lab rearing technique was standardised for Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), the early larval parasitoid of the coconut leafeating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker on the alternate host Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The parasitoid took 23.3 ± 3.2 days to complete the egg to adult period. Adult longevity for males and females was 15.3 ± 4.6 and 13.8 ± 4.6 days respectively. Fecundity was 14.8 ± 4.3 eggs per female. The percentage parasitism was 60.6 ± 5.7 on the alternative host C. cephalonica and 64.6 ± 5.5 on the natural host O. arenosella. Eight- to ten-day-old caterpillars were the ideal stage of C. cephalonica for rearing A. taragamae. The results indicated the amenability of rearing A. taragamae on C. cephalonica in the laboratory.

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Keywords

Apanteles taragamae, Corcyra cephalonica, Opisina arenosella, Lab rearing technique, Coconut

Citation

BioControl (2007) 52:747–752

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