Environmental Entomology (1987) 16, 1035-1041

M.J. Mendel, P.B. Shaw and J.C. Owens (1987)
Life-history characteristics of Anastatus semiflavidus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid of the range caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) over a range of temperatures
Environmental Entomology 16 (5), 1035-1041
Abstract: The effect of temperature on the fertility and longevity of Anastatus semiflavidus Gahan (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid of the range caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell, was investigated. Age-specific fertility, m_x, and survivorship, l_x, were measured at six temperatures. The intrinsic rate of increase, r_m, on a daily basis was 0.043, 0.079, 0.145, and 0.166 for 20, 25, 30, and 35°C, respectively. Generation time, T, for each of these temperatures was 80.2, 57.2, 30.2, and 22.7 d; net reproductive rate, R₀, was 31.0, 90.1, 80.3, and 43.3, and the mean number of offspring produced was 50.1, 140.7, 125.5, and 67.6. The parasitoid showed no evidence of oviposition at 10 and 15°C. A honey supplement greatly enhanced offspring production. The possible effects of seasonal temperatures on the reproduction of the parasitoid and ability to control the range caterpillar are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hemileuca oliviae	Grasses/turf/rangeland	U.S.A. (SW)
Anastatus semiflavidus (parasitoid)	Hemileuca oliviae	Grasses/turf/rangeland	U.S.A. (SW)