ISSN:
1573-8248
Keywords:
larval-pupal parasitoid
;
mass-rearing
;
melon fruit fly
;
Bactrocera cucurbitae
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract Psyttalia fletcheri is a solitary larval endoparasitoid ofthe melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae. Initiallycolonized in 1985, mass production of P.fletcheri for the last 10 years has beenfacilitated with a rearing method developed earlier.However, the level of parasitoid recovery seldomexceeded 35%. We examined the parasitoid'sdevelopmental biology and behavior to identify theprocedures that may improve efficiency ofproduction. We found that by limiting the depth ofoviposition dish (receptacle that holds the hostlarvae during exposure to female parasitoids) to 4 mm and using 4-d-old (late 2nd instar) B.cucurbitae larvae for oviposition, parasitoid yieldwas increased two-fold.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026519004276
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