Acceptability and suitability of eggs of false codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from irradiated parents to parasitism by Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

We determined the acceptability and suitability of eggs of Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) to parasitization by Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae Nagaraja under no choice and choice situations. Male and female moths were treated (T) with 150 or 200 Gy of γ-radiation, inbred or out-crossed to normal untreated (N) counterparts, and eggs laid by different crosses were offered to T. cryptophlebiae as host material. Newly laid (24-h-old) eggs, as well as eggs that were 48- and 72-h-old were evaluated. In general, all egg treatments in the no choice experiments were acceptable for oviposition and suitable for parasitoid development. However, significant differences in the number of parasitized eggs were detected when one member of the host cross, particularly the female, was treated with γ-radiation or when the host egg age was greater than 24 h. No significant differences were detected in any of the choice experiments. Our results suggest that T. cryptophlebiae would accept, successfully develop in, and emerge from FCM eggs laid by the different crosses that would theoretically be present in the field under a sterile insect release program for false codling moth (N♀ × T♂, T♀ × N♂, and T♀ × T♂) and suggest that further evaluations combining releases of irradiated moths and parasitoids are warranted.