Applied Entomology and Zoology (2017) 52, 287-293

Xiao-Qin Cheng, Feng-Qin Cao, Yi-Bo Zhang, Jian-Yang Guo, Fang-Hao Wan and Wan-Xue Liu (2017)
Life history and life table of the host-feeding parasitoid Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
Applied Entomology and Zoology 52 (2), 287-293
Abstract: Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault), a destructive host-feeding wasp, is an important biocontrol agent/larval ectoparasitoid of agromyzid leafminers worldwide. In the present study, the life history and life table of H. varicornis reared with Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) were studied at a constant 27 °C. The developmental durations of female and male eggs, larvae, prepupae, pupae and total immature wasps were 1.00 and 1.00, 2.57 and 2.62, 0.45 and 0.37, 3.88 and 3.52, and 7.90 and 7.52 days, respectively. This wasp showed three types of host-killing behavior: reproductive parasitization (parasitism), non-reproductive host feeding (host feeding), and host stinging without oviposition or feeding (host stinging), resulting in 133.9, 303.8, and 84.2, respectively, killed host larvae. We confirm that H. varicornis is a strong synovigenic parasitoid, with an ovigeny index of 0.003. The number of host-feeding events was strongly correlated with parasitism, host-stinging events, longevity and total host mortality. The intrinsic rate of increase, the finite rate of increase, the net reproductive rate, the gross reproduction rate, and the mean length of a generation of H. varicornis were 0.3011/day, 1.3624/day, 66.22 offspring/individual, 168.33 offspring/individual, and 13.56 days, respectively. These results could contribute to a better understanding of the biocontrol efficiency of this destructive host feeder.
(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): Fang Hao Wan, Wan-Xue Liu

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.
	Liriomyza trifolii
Hemiptarsenus varicornis (parasitoid)	Liriomyza trifolii