International Journal of Pest Management (2018) 64, 45-50

Lang-Fen He, Pan Li, Zhong-Shi Zhou and Zai-Fu Xu (2018)
Temperature-dependent parasitism and development in Aenasius arizonensis Girault (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a solitary endoparasitoid of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
International Journal of Pest Management 64 (1), 45-50
Abstract: Ophmella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a biological control agent of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae). To reveal its climate adaptation, the effect of temperature on life traits of Aenasius arizonensis, a parasitoid of Phenacoccus solenopsis was studied. The results showed that both the highest parasitism and emergence rates of A. arizonensis were observed at 31 °C. The parasitism and emergence rates of the parasitoid significantly increased with the increasing temperature from 19 °C to 31 °C, but dropped when the temperature exceeded 31 °C. Female ratio reached a higher value at 19, 22, 31, 34 or 37 °C. The minimum threshold temperatures for female and male parasitoids were 11.5 and 11.2 °C, respectively. The effective accumulative temperatures for the parasitoid to develop from eggs to both female and male adults were 222.2 day-degrees. Since the highest parasitism rate, the highest emergence rate and a higher female ratio were observed at 31 °C, we conclude that the optimum temperature for mass rearing of A. arizonensis is 31 °C in the insectary based on the results of our study.
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Link to article at publishers website

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phenacoccus solenopsis
Aenasius arizonensis (parasitoid)	Phenacoccus solenopsis