Biological parameters of Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): effect of host diet

The effect of host diet on developmental time, fecundity and life table parameters of Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoid of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) was studied in the laboratory condition at 26 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D h. The diets used were rice, barley, corn and wheat flours. The developmental time (egg to adult) of the first and second generations of the parasitoid ranged from 9.00 to 14.00 days on barley flour and wheat flour. The survival of immature stages in 1st and 2nd generations ranged from 27 to 63%. The sex ratio of wasp progeny (females/total) ranged from 36.72 to 57.83% on wheat flour and rice flour. In the first and second generations, the fecundity of B. hebetor reared on barley and rice flours was greatest. Life table parameters varied significantly with host diets. In 2nd generation, larvae of B. hebetor that were reared on rice flour showed the highest net reproduction rate (R0 = 106.13) and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.269). Based on the life table analyses, rice flour was found to be the best diet for rearing the parasitoid. The results of this study can be used to improve mass-rearing programs of B. hebetor.