Effect of temperature on the development and progeny production of Glyptapanteles muesebecki (Blanchard) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of Pseudaletia sequax Franclemont (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

The developmental time of Glyptapanteles muesebecki (Blanchard) parasitizing the armyworm Pseudaletia sequax Franclemont, and the number of pupae/host were determined at six constant temperatures ranging from 14° to 30°C. The egg + larval stages lasted from 17.8 days at 26° and 29°C to 56.4 days at 14°C, while the pupal stage ranged from 6.4 days at 29°C to 34.5 days at 14°C. G. muesebecki required 291.9 degree-days (DD) above the lower threshold of 8.9°C to complete the egg + larval development, while the pupae required 107.0 DD above 11.1°C. Development from egg to adult was completed after 397.4 DD above the lower threshold of 9.6°C. The number of pupae/host was not significantly different between 18°° and 26°C, and ranged from 86.9 at 22°C to 92.1 at 18°C. At the lower (14°°C) and upper (29°C) threshold temperatures, this number was significantly lower, averaging 27.6 and 19.8 pupae/host, respectively. Moreover, at 14° and 29°C the proportion of parasitized caterpillars was significantly lower than in the range between 18° and 26°C and at the lower temperature there was no synchronism in the pupation of parasitoids from the same host. At 30°C, the host larvae died before the emergence of the parasitoids. At 18, 22 or 26°C, the development and progeny production of G. muesebecki was not affected in the laboratory after five consecutive generations.