Studies on reproductive efficiency and biometric parameters of progeny adults of Nesolynx thymus (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) – a parasitoid of Exorista bombycis (louis) (Diptera: Tachinidae) subjected to higher temperature

ABSTRACT

Of the various factors, which influence the developmental characteristics of the parasitoid, the occurrence of high degree of sensitivity to temperature among the parasitoid is considered to be one of the drawbacks in biological control programmes of the pests using parasitoids.  In the backdrop of this, initially, an attempt was made know whether Nesolynx thymus an indigenous, gregarious ecto-pupal parasitoid, would complete its life cycle at temperatures between 30 and 35°C.  Later at the upper vital temperature limit for development, the female parasitoid was maintained for 10 generations to induce temperature tolerance.  It was observed that the parasitoid could successfully complete its life cycle upto 32°C.  No significant decline in rate of parasitization was observed upto 8th generation.  Though there was no consistency in the progeny production at different generation, some decline was observed from 8th generation onwards.  While, the parasitoid sex ratio remained unchanged.  Further, The study was continued for 10 generations and the biometric characters 1 to 10 generations an increase in the body length, head width, wingspan of male and female and abdomen width and length of females.  However, in the initial 5 generations, these parameters were significantly lower compare to control and thereafter, subsequent generations, they are significantly higher over the control.  The results are discussed in relation to the induction of temperature tolerance in N. thymus and stabilization in the parasitoid progeny production.

Key words:  Exorista bombycis, ecto-pupal parasitoid, Nesolynx thymus, biometric   characters, developmental temperature

REFERENCES

1. Ables, J. R. and Shepard, M. 1976.  Influence of temperature on oviposition by the parasite Spalangia endius and Muscidifurax raptor. Entomol., 5: 511-513.
2. Aroga, R. and Coderre, D. 2001.  Effects of temperature on the development and fecundity of Diaperasticus erythrocephala Olivier (Dermaptera : Forficulidae). Insect Sci. Applic., 21(2): 161-167.
3. Bazzocchi, G. G., Lanzoni, A., Burgio, G. and Fiacconi, M. R. 2003.  Effect of temperature and host on the pre-imaginal development of the parasitoid Diglyphus isaea (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).  Biological Control, 26: 74 – 82.
4. Cave, R. D. and Gaylor, M. J. 1988.  Influence of temperature and humidity on development and survival of Telenomus reynoldsi parasitizing Geocoris punctipes eggs.  Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 81: 278 – 285.
5. Chapman, R. F. 1969.  The Insects Structure and Function.  The English Universities Press Ltd., New York, Pp.819.
6. Cheah, C. S. J. 1987.  Temperature requirements of the chrysanthemum leaf miner, Chromatomyla syngenesine, and its ectoparasitoid, Digpyphus isea.  Entomophaga, 32: 357 – 365.
7. Chong, J. H. and Oetting, R. D. 2006.  Influence of temperature and mating status on the development and fecundity of the mealybug parasitoid, Anagyrus sp. Nov. nr. Sinope Noyes and Menezes (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae).  Environ. Entomol., 1188 – 1197.
8. Daane, K. M., Malskar-Kuenen, R. D. and Walton, V. M. 2004.  Temperature-dependent development of Anagyrus pseudococci (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae) as a parasitoid of the vine mealy bug Planococcus ficus (Homoptera : Pseudococcidae).  Biol. Control, 31: 123 -132.
9. Grassberger, M. and Frank, C. 2003.  Temperature-related development of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia Vitripennis as forensic indicator.  Med. and Vet. Entomol., 17(3): 257.
10. Gullan, P. J. and Cranston, P. S. 1994.  The Insects: An outline of Entomology.  Chapman and Hall, London. Pp. 491.
11. Ichiki, R., Takasu, K. and Shima, H. 2003.  Effects of temperature on immature development of the parasitic fly Bessa parallela (Meigen) (Diptera : Tachinidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool., 38 (4): 435 – 439.
12. Islam, W. 2005.  Effect of temperature on life history characteristics of Dinarmus basalis (Rond.) (Hymenootera : Pteromalidae)- A parasitoid of Callosobruchus maculates (F.). Entomon 30(1): 47 – 55.
13. Kishore, R., Kumar, P., Manjunath, D. and Datta, R. K. 1994. Effect of temperature on the developmental period, progeny production and longevity of Tetrastichus howardii (Olliff) (Hymenoptera : Eulophidae). J. Biol. Control., 8(1) : 10-13.
14. Kumar, P., Sathya Prasad, K., Ram Kishore, Manjunath D. and Datta R.K., 1992.  Natural enemy complex of the uzi fly Exorista sorbillans and their role in regulating the host population.  Proc. Natl. Sem. Uzi fly and its Control, KSSRDI, Bangalroe, pp. 117-126.
15. Kumar, P., Manjunath, D., Sathya Prasad K., Kishore, R., Vinod Kumar and Datta, R.K. 1993.  Integrated management of the uzifly, Exorista bombycis Louis (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of the silkworm, bombyx mori L. Int. J. Pest Management, 39(4): 445-448
16. Kumar. P., D. Manjunath, Vinod Kumar, Ashan, M. M. and R. K. Datta. 1996.  Industrial production of biocontrol agents of the key pests of mulberry and silkworm – Prospects and challenges.  Proc. Int. Conf. on Sericulture - Global Silk Scenario – 2001 held at Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute, Mysore, on 25 – 26 October, 1994, 189 – 199.
17. Leopold, R. A., Chen, W., Morgan, D. J. 2005.  The influence of temperature on development and reproduction of the egg parasitoid, Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault (Hymenoptera : Mymaridae).  Proceedings of 2005 CDFA Pierce’s Disease Control Program Research Symposium,  December 5-7, 2005, San Diego, CA.,  349-353.
18. Maceda, A., Hohmann, C. L. and Santos, H. R. dos, 2003.  Temperature effects on Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and Trichogrammatioidae annulata De Santis. Braz. Arch. Boil. Technol., 46(1): Curtiba Jan. 2003.
19. Madar, R. J. and Miller, J. C. 1984.  Developmental biology of Apanteles yakutatensis a primary parasite of Autographa californica.  Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 76: 683-687.
20. Miller, J. C. 1992. Temperature dependent development in the convergent lady beetle.  Environ. Entomol., 21: 197-201.
21. Swapna Gurrapu and Estari Mamidala. Medicinal Plants Used By Traditional Medicine
    Practitioners in the Management of HIV/AIDS-Related Diseases in Tribal Areas of Adilabad
    District, Telangana Region. The Ame J Sci & Med Res. 2016:2(1):239-245.
    doi:10.17812/ajsmr2101.
22. Miller, J. C. 1996. Temperature-dependent development of Meteorus communis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of the variegated cutworm (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol., 89: 877 – 880.
23. Murthy, K. S., Jalali, S. K. and Venkatesan, T. 2003.  Influence of temperature on the development and parasitisation rate of the egg parasitoid Telenomus species (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera).  J. Ent. Res., 27(1): 23-28.
24. Obrycki, J. J., Tauber, M. J., Tauber, C. A. and Gollands, B. 1987.  Developmental responses of the Mexican biotype if Edovum puttleri (Hymenoptera : Eulophidae) to temperature and photoperiod.  Environ. Entomol., 16: 1319 – 1323.
25. Ohta, I. and Ohtaishi, M. 2004.  Fertility, longevity and intrinsic rate of increase of Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hymenoptera : Aphididae).  App. Entomol. Zool., 39(1) : 113 – 117.
26. Olaye, A. C., Schulthess, F., Shanower, T. G. and Bosque-perez, N. A. 1997.  Factors influencing the developmental rates and reproductive potentials of Telenomus brusseolae (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of Sesamia Calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae).  Biological Control, 8 : 15 -21.
27. Omer, A. D., Jonson, M. W. and Tabashnik, B. E. 1996.  Demogra[hy of all leaf miner Parasitoid Ganaspidium utilism Beardsley (Hymenoptera : Eucoilidae) at different temperature. Bio. Con., 6: 29-34.
28. Partissoli, D., Fernandes, O. A., Zanuncio, J. C. and Pastori, P. L. 2004.  Fertility life table of Trichogramma pretiosum and Trichogramma acacioi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae) eggs at different constant temperatures.  Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 97(4): 729 –731.
29. Ruberson, J. R., Tauber, C. A. and Tauber, M. J. 1995.  Developmental effects of host and temperature on Telenomus spp. (Hymenoptera : Scelionidae) parasitizing  chrysopid eggs. Biol. Control, 5: 245 – 250.
30. Sathya Prasad, K., Shekhar, M. A., Vinod Kumar and Kariappa, B. K. 2006.  Comparative field efficacy of different management packages against the uzi fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Indian J. Seric., 45(1): 51 – 54.
31. Urbaneja, A., Hinarejos, R., Llacer, E., Garrido, A. and Jacas, J. 2002.  Effect of temperature on life history of Cirrospilus vittatus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an Ectoparasitoid of phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae).  J. Econ. E ntomol., 95 (2): 250 – 255.
32. Ziser, M. R., Koehler, K. J. and Pedigo, L. P. 1996.  Degreeday requirements for development of the bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) under two rearing regimes.  J. Econ. Entomol., 89: 111-118.