Insects (2020) 11 (8 - 482)

Modesto del Pino, Juan Ramón Gallego, Estrella Hernández Suárez and Tomás Cabello (2020)
Effect of temperature on life history and parasitization behavior of Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae)
Insects 11 (8 - 482)
Abstract: Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is currently used as biological control agent for several lepidopteran pests. Knowledge of thermal requirements is essential to optimize its rearing procedures and inundative releases. The biological characteristics and two-sex life table parameters of T. achaeae were determined at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. T. achaeae was able to develop and survive from 15 °C to 30 °C, but not at 35 °C. Temperature significantly affected the preadult development time and adult longevity, decreasing when temperature increased from 15 °C to 30 °C. Temperature significantly altered the sex ratio, being female biased between 15 °C and 25 °C. Age-stage, two-sex life table analysis indicated that net reproductive rate (R0) was highest at 20 °C. Both the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) increased with increasing temperature, while the mean generation time (T) decreased significantly. In addition, functional response of T. achaeae was studied, being significantly affected by temperature and host egg density, displaying a Holling type-I at 15 °C and a Holling type-II at 25 °C. The relevance of these results is discussed for the use of T. achaeae as biological control agent.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Tomas Cabello

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.
	Chrysodeixis chalcites	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Spain (Canary Is.)
Trichogramma achaeae (parasitoid)	Chrysodeixis chalcites	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Spain (Canary Is.)