Hassankhani1, A. Ghassemi-Kahrizeh1*, A. Hosseinzadeh1, S. Aramideh2 and M. Frouzan3
(1) Institute of Agriculture, Water, Food, and Nutraceuticals, Mah. C. Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran; (2) Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran; (3) Plant Protection Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran.
*Email address of the corresponding author: [email protected]
The augmentative release of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a key strategy in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Understanding the influence of temperature on the growth, development, and reproduction of parasitoids is crucial for optimizing their mass-rearing systems. H. hebetor is a cosmopolitan ectoparasitoid that attacks a wide range of lepidopteran larvae. In this study, the demographic and developmental characteristics of H. hebetor reared on larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were evaluated under constant relative humidity (60±5%) at temperatures of 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32°C, using the two-sex life table approach. Extreme temperatures (16 and 32°C) significantly prolonged developmental duration, reduced adult longevity in both sexes, increased mortality, and decreased fecundity. In contrast, rearing at 24 and 28°C supported optimal growth and reproduction, with the performance at 24°C being comparable to that at 20°C. Overall, our findings indicated that temperature exerted a substantial effect on the life table parameters of H. hebetor. Therefore, Therefore, temperatures of 24 and 28°C can be recommended as the most favorable conditions for rearing this parasitoid on E. kuehniella larvae to enhance its effectiveness in the biological control of stored-product pests.
Parasitoid rearing, temperature, flour moth, biological control, storage pests.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001542