Journal of Economic Entomology (2021) 114, 62-71

Fatima Badran, Yaghoub Fathipour, Abdoolnabi Bagheri, Mohammadreza Attaran and Gadi V.P. Reddy (2021)
Generation-dependent functional and numerical responses of a naturally fungus-infected colony of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared on Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Iran
Journal of Economic Entomology 114 (1), 62-71
Abstract: The functional and numerical responses of Habrobracon hebetor (Say) were assessed over 30 sequential generations (G) on different densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 fifth-instar larvae) of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller). Seven tested generations (G2_inf, G4_inf, G6_inf, G8_inf, G10_inf, G15_inf, and G30_inf) had already been naturally infected by a fungus species, whereas only the second generation (G2) had the colonies of both infected (G2_inf) and uninfected (G2_uninf) individuals. All infected generations, as well as the uninfected generation, showed a Type III functional response. A high variation was found in the handling times (T_h) of the parasitoid through 30 sequential generations, and G10_inf had the longest handling time. The shortest handling time and the maximum estimated attack rate (T/T_h) were observed in G2_inf. No significant difference in terms of the number of parasitized hosts was found among all infected generations, as well as between G2_inf and G2_uninf. Although the handling times in G2_inf and G2_uninf were close to each other, the attack coefficient of G2_uninf was more than that of G2_inf. The attack coefficient and handling time of infected generations increased from G2_inf to G10_inf and then decreased in the higher generations. The most plausible parameters of functional response of infected generations were observed in G_inf. A negative relationship between eggs laid and host densities was observed in the infected generations (G2_inf, G4_inf, G6_inf, G8_inf, and G10_inf). G2_uninf and, among infected generations, G_inf were the best generations for practical utilization in inundative release programs.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Yaghoub Fathipour, Gadi V. P. Reddy

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production
inundative/inoculative release

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Habrobracon hebetor (parasitoid)			Iran