Insect Science and its Application (2000) 20, 23-31

K. Murugan, N. Senthil Kumar, D. Jeyabalan, S. Senthil Nathan, S. Sivaramakrishnan and M. Swamiappan (2000)
Influence of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) diet on its parasitoid Campoletis chlorideae Uchida
Insect Science and its Application 20 (1), 23-31
Abstract: A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the quality of host plant parts determines the nutritional quality of herbivorous insects feeding on it to their parasitoids. A Gossypium hirsutum-Helicoverpa armigera-Campoletis chlorideae tritrophic system was evaluated. The superior nutritional quality of bolls and young leaves of Gossypium hirsutum (MCU-5 variety) contributes to more efficient feeding, growth and reproduction of the bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and better survival of its larval parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae Uchida. Longer total developmental duration and decrease in adult longevity were observed in H. armigera reared on senescent leaves than in those reared on bolls. Consumption, growth rate and efficiency measures were significantly lower in parasitised H. armigera larvae than in unparasitised larvae. Percentage parasitism was highest (84.1%) in H. armigera fed on bolls. The parasitoid C. chlorideae displayed shorter developmental duration and improved survival on H. armigera fed on bolls.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Kadarkarai Murugan, Sengottayan Senthil-Nathan

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera	Cotton (Gossypium)
Campoletis chlorideae (parasitoid)	Helicoverpa armigera	Cotton (Gossypium)