Evaluation of parasitic potential of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) in grains treated with diatomaceous

Abstract

The herein reported study was conducted to evaluate the parasitic potential of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) against larvae of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) while, adult pests on the food medium treated with two formulations of diatomaceous earth (DE); Marine (Celite) and fresh water (Perma Guard) as grain protectants. The DE was applied at three dose rates i.e., 200, 400 and 600 ppm, at 25°C temperature and 65% relative humidity. Mortality and emergence of adults of tested insects and parasitoid were observed after 14 and 28 days of exposure respectivly. The highest mortality of C. maculatus was 43.37% against higher dose of Perma Guard (600 ppm) while the maximum mortality of S. oryzae was recorded 39.56% on application of Celite (600 ppm). The maximum mortality of A. calandrae parasitoid was observed 66.86% in S. oryzae infested grains treated with higher dose of Perma Guard (600 ppm), while 63.81% mortality of parasitoid was observed in S. oryzae infested grains at higher dose of Celite DE (600 ppm). The Perma Guard effectively controls population of tested insect’s mortality than the Celite. The highest emergence of C maculatus observed was 62.44% at lower dose of 200 ppm of Perma Guard DE while the highest emergence recorded on application of Celite was 60.66% from C. maculatus. The highest emergence of A. calandrae was 65.65% from S. oryzae at lower dose of 200 ppm of Perma Guard DE while the highest emergence of parasitoid recorded on application of Celite was found 60.66% at lower dose of 200 ppm from C maculatus. The emergence of tested insects and parasitoid increased with the decrease in dose rate of DE in most of the tested combinations. Higher dose (600 ppm) of both DE (Celite and Perma Guard) used in experiment showed mortality of tested insects and parasitoid activity of Anisopteromalus calandrae and furthermore release of A. calandrae on host insects would be adversely affected by use of diatomaceous earth product on stored grains. The experiments were carried out in laboratory of Grain Research, Training and Storage Management cell, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.