Reproductive strategy of the parasitic wasp Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Staint).

Abstract

The reproductive strategy of the parasitic wasp Bracon hebetor (Say) on the larvae of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Staint.) was studied under laboratory conditions. B. hebetor has a developmental period of about 10 days. A single female B hebetor attacked and killed when offered 5, 10 or 20 host larvae at a time, before oviposition. The sex-ratio (cP: g ) of the F1 was effected (3.7:1, 3.0:1, 2.9:1). The possibility of using B. hebetor to suppress populations of C. cephalonica is discussed.