荔枝蝽象卵寄生蜂——平腹小蜂体外培育研究

本文报道用人造寄主卵繁殖平腹小蜂Anastatus japonicus Ashmead^***成功的结果.筛选出最佳卵壳材料为32—36μm的聚丙烯膜,培养基为柞蚕蛹血淋巴44.4%、10%麦乳精33.3%、鸡蛋黄11.1%、尼氏盐11.1%.体外连代培养平腹小蜂的结果表明,除蛹化率(72—83%)外,各代间在寄生率(40—44%)、孵化率(94—96%)、羽化率(91—96%)、展翅率(97—99%)方面无明显的差别,且人造卵育出的各代蜂在身体大小、寿命及繁殖力方面均与柞蚕卵育出蜂基本相似或优于柞蚕卵育出蜂.筛选出的人工培养基的氨基酸种类与蓖麻蚕卵和柞蚕卵相同,但量上差异比较明显.本文还报道了平腹小蜂在人造寄主卵上的产卵过程.     

学习经历在平腹小蜂寄主选择过程中的作用

研究了已经交配与未经交配的平腹小蜂在羽化后不同时间对中间寄主柞蚕卵信息记忆的持效性,比较了经学习训练与未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在不同时间对其自然寄主荔枝蝽卵和中间寄主柞蚕卵的选择性。结果表明：交配过的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h检验柞蚕卵的时间和数量都显著增多,而未经交配的平腹小蜂在此时搜索寄主的时间也显著延长,说明平腹小蜂在此时对柞蚕卵信息的记忆开始明显减弱。经学习训练的和未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数和刺卵数都明显提高,并且前者较后者在各个时段对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数、检验卵数以及刺卵数都多,说明经学习训练的平腹小蜂对荔枝蝽卵的趋性较高,并且随着时间的延长受柞蚕卵信息的干扰逐渐减小,对荔枝蝽卵的学习效果不断增强。     

稻虱缨小蜂的寄主选择性和适宜性

稻虱缨小蜂Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang &Wang对白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera(HO· rvath)卵龄无明显的寄生选择性,但在新鲜寄主中的发育历期较短,育出的蜂体较大,生殖力较高,而羽化 率和雌雄性比则不受寄主卵龄的影响。在白背飞虱和褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens (Stal)卵共存时,稻虱缨小蜂明显选择褐飞虱。稻虱缨小蜂在褐飞虱卵中的发育显著地比在白背飞虱卵中的慢;褐飞虱卵育出的 蜂的初羽化成虫怀卵量显著高于白背飞虱卯育出的,虫体大小也类似,且虫体越大,生殖力越高。从白背飞虱卵育出的蜂供给白背飞虱卵(W→W)时,产卵量低于其它育蜂寄主和供给产卵寄主组合(w→B、B→B、B→W)的,其内禀增长力rm较其余者小25%。本文还讨论了应用适宜性指数来综合衡量寄主的适宜性。     

Relationship between temperature and development of Ooencyrtus kuwanae(Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae),the egg parasitoid of Lymantria dispar(Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae),with an evaluation of its offspring quality reared from eggs of the substitute host Antheraea pernyi(Lepidoptera:Saturniidae)

舞毒蛾Lymantr dispar(L.)是国际性检疫害虫.大蛾卵跳小蜂Ooencyrtus kuwanae (Howard)是舞毒蛾卵的重要寄生蜂,对舞毒蛾有一定的控制作用.为了在规模化繁育大蛾卵跳小蜂时控制小蜂的发育进度,设置不同的温度梯度研究了该蜂发育与温度的关系;同时,为了对替代寄主繁育出的天敌质量进行评价,对利用其自然寄主舞毒蛾卵和替代寄主柞蚕Antheraea pernyi卵繁育出的子代成蜂的寿命、胸宽、雌雄性比进行了比较.结果显示:大蛾卵跳小蜂的发育起点温度和有效积温分别为10.50±1.41℃和260.74±25.09日·度,温度与发育速率的关系为T=10.50+ 260.74V.当采用30％的蜂蜜水饲喂成蜂时,柞蚕卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂雌、雄蜂的平均寿命分别为15.01和10.38 d,采用原寄主舞毒蛾卵繁育出的雌、雄蜂平均寿命分别为20.94和15.95 d,两者差异显著;采用柞蚕卵繁育出的雌蜂个体显著大于用舞毒蛾卵繁育出的雌蜂个体;柞蚕卵和舞毒蛾卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂雌雄性比没有显著差异,分别为2.42∶1和2.57:1.结果表明,在野外开展舞毒蛾的生物防治时,释放利用柞蚕卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂具有可行性.     

舞毒蛾卵平腹小蜂野外寄生柞蚕卵规律的观察

2005年5～9月,在长春市吉林农业大学校园内的杨树林和李树林内进行人工挂放柞蚕Antheraea pernyi Guerin-Meneville卵卡诱集本地平腹小蜂Anastatus spp.寄生试验.结果表明杨树林中的舞毒蛾卵平腹小蜂Anastatus japonicus Ashmead的寄生率最高可达23.1%,李树林中的舞毒蛾卵平腹小蜂的寄生率最高可达33.5%,李树林中舞毒蛾卵平腹小蜂的寄生率明显高于杨树林.全年中,舞毒蛾卵平腹小蜂分别在6月下旬和8月上旬出现2次寄生高峰.     

舞毒蛾卵寄生蜂大蛾卵跳小蜂发育与温度的关系及利用替代寄主柞蚕卵繁育的子代品质评价

舞毒蛾Lymantria dispar (L.)是国际性检疫害虫。大蛾卵跳小蜂Ooencyrtus kuwanae (Howard)是舞毒蛾卵的重要寄生蜂, 对舞毒蛾有一定的控制作用。为了在规模化繁育大蛾卵跳小蜂时控制小蜂的发育进度, 设置不同的温度梯度研究了该蜂发育与温度的关系; 同时, 为了对替代寄主繁育出的天敌质量进行评价, 对利用其自然寄主舞毒蛾卵和替代寄主柞蚕Antheraea pernyi卵繁育出的子代成蜂的寿命、 胸宽、 雌雄性比进行了比较。结果显示： 大蛾卵跳小蜂的发育起点温度和有效积温分别为10.50±1.41℃和260.74±25.09日·度, 温度与发育速率的关系为T=10.50+260.74V。当采用30%的蜂蜜水饲喂成蜂时, 柞蚕卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂雌、 雄蜂的平均寿命分别为15.01和10.38 d, 采用原寄主舞毒蛾卵繁育出的雌、 雄蜂平均寿命分别为20.94和15.95 d, 两者差异显著; 采用柞蚕卵繁育出的雌蜂个体显著大于用舞毒蛾卵繁育出的雌蜂个体; 柞蚕卵和舞毒蛾卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂雌雄性比没有显著差异, 分别为2.42∶1和2.57∶1。结果表明, 在野外开展舞毒蛾的生物防治时, 释放利用柞蚕卵繁育出的大蛾卵跳小蜂具有可行性。     

平腹小蜂Anastatus sp.个体发育与马尾松毛虫胚胎发育的相互影响

在28℃恒温下,松毛虫的胚胎发育期为7—8天;平腹小蜂的个体发育周期为19天左右,其中胚胎期约2天。如果松毛虫在产卵后12小时,胚胎发育到盘形成期以后,被平腹小蜂寄生,则胚盘在半小时内解体离散成匀质;产卵后约36小时,胚带形成后被寄生,经约5—12小时,胚带开始破坏而逐渐解体离散成为小颗粒;松毛虫胚胎发育到胚动以后,甚至将近孵化时,仍可被平腹小蜂寄生,并将离散后的寄主胚胎组织吞食殆尽,发育成蜂,破卵壳出来。在松毛虫胚胎发育早期被寄生,卵粒寄生率高,蜂的成活率也高,反之则低。 同一寄主卵可被一头或多头平腹小蜂复寄生。一粒寄主卵内的寄生蜂卵可达9粒,但最后只羽化一头蜂。     

松毛虫赤眼蜂两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系在不同品种柞蚕卵中的寄生和生长发育表现

【目的】明确两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi在不同品种柞蚕Antheraea pernyi卵中的寄生及发育表现,为以柞蚕卵为替代寄主更好地规模化繁育赤眼蜂提供依据。【方法】测定两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系雌蜂在6个品种柞蚕卵［抗大(KD)、大四(DS)、高新(GX)、988(NEE)、青大(QD)和特大(TD)］上的寄生率、子代蜂窝蜂数(单窝羽化子代蜂数)和子代蜂雌性比等生物学指标,以及6个品种柞蚕卵的质量指标(单卵湿重、蛋白质含量、总糖含量和甘油三酯含量);利用主成分分析揭示柞蚕卵质量指标与赤眼蜂生物学指标间的相关性。【结果】NEE品种柞蚕卵育出的两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体显著大于除KD和QD品种以外的其他柞蚕品种卵育出的两性品系子代蜂。柞蚕品种对两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂的寄生率、子代蜂窝蜂数和子代蜂雌性比均无显著影响。在孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂中,KD品种柞蚕卵育出的松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂窝蜂数最多,显著高于NEE和QD品种育出的子代蜂窝蜂数,但与DS, GX和TD品种育出的子代蜂窝蜂数相比无显著差异。柞蚕品种对孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂的寄生率和子代蜂个体大小均无显著影响。TD品种柞蚕卵的蛋白质含量最高,显著高于除GX品种以外的柞蚕品种。KD品种柞蚕卵的总糖含量和QD品种柞蚕卵的甘油三酯含量最高,均分别显著高于其余柞蚕品种。主成分分析表明,两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂寄生率、柞蚕卵蛋白质含量和甘油三酯含量均与柞蚕卵总糖含量呈负相关;两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体大小和柞蚕卵甘油三酯含量与单卵湿重呈负相关;孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂寄生率和柞蚕卵甘油三酯含量与松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂窝蜂数、柞蚕卵总糖含量和单卵湿重呈负相关;孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体大小和柞蚕卵总糖含量与蛋白质含量呈负相关。【结论】本研究通过筛选适宜两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系赤眼蜂繁育的柞蚕卵品种,初步明确了卵内主要营养指标与子代蜂生物学指标间的相关性。研究结果为利用柞蚕卵更好地规模化繁育松毛虫赤眼蜂提供依据与数据支撑。     

荔蝽卵平腹小蜂越冬环境初步调查

荔蝽卵平腹小蜂Anastatussp．是一种卵寄生蜂,主要寄生于荔枝蝽TessaratomapapillosaDrary的卵内,对荔枝蝽的为害有一定的控制作用。60年代初,蒲蛰龙等[1]对该蜂生物学特性开展了研究,并成功地利用蓖麻蚕卵、柞蚕卵作为替代寄主大量繁殖此蜂,释放于荔枝园防治荔枝蝽,取得了良好效果。从80年代开始,刘志诚等[2]开展人工卵的研究,取得成功,目前已经形成一套成熟的人工繁蜂、放蜂防治荔枝蝽的技术。但在自然界,该蜂难以形成强大的自然种群,越冬后早春的自然种群数量相当低,早春寄生率不高。在释放平腹小蜂的同时,如何保护它们,…     

以荧光物质标记平腹小蜂

将荧光物质罗丹明B加进人工寄主卵液,可使平腹小蜂Anastatus sp.的幼虫、蛹及成虫得到标记。在适宜浓度(0.02～0.03％)下,对蜂的化蛹率、羽化率、性比、雌蜂寿命、交配等没有不良影响,且子代的卵和一龄幼虫获得红色荧光标记。如果成虫期继续口服罗丹明B蜜糖水,子代的荧光可得到加强。标记蜂能与无标记蜂进行正常的交配、产子等活动。果园释放标记蜂,经挂卵可回收寄生的标记子代。经初步测定,标记蜂的卵和幼虫垂直分布,在荔枝树冠下层占58.33％,用此标记法,十分有利于平腹小蜂的种群分布的研究。     

Egg performance on an egg-carrying bug. Experiments in the field

Selection of oviposition sites has direct influence on female fitness. Differences in offspring survival among sites should favour females to select oviposition sites with the highest survival. Golden egg bug females ( Phyllomorpha laciniata; Coreidae, Heteroptera) use conspecifics as oviposition substrates. Most eggs are laid on the back of the bug but they can be found on all body parts. Females never carry their own eggs, and males commonly carry eggs received without copulation with the donor. We examined differences in egg survival relative to paternity to the egg, host sex and body size and attachment of an egg on a host's body in the field. We also studied which bugs received eggs. Egg loss was surprisingly common: 30–80% of recaptured individuals lost eggs during a six-day period. Unexpectedly, host's paternity to the eggs did not affect egg survival. Also, egg loss did not differ among hosts in respect to other parameters studied. Males received more eggs than females, but survival of the eggs was not better on a male's back than on a female's back. Since egg loss is common in the golden egg bug, we suggest that female oviposition strategy to lay eggs on conspecifics is not perfect. This is due to active behaviour of potential hosts (for example, rejected oviposition attempts) or lack of suitable oviposition substrates (conspecifics) in the field. Since eggs do not survive unless carried, females may be acting opportunistically, doing the best job possible by laying eggs on available conspecifics.     

Development of an artificial host egg for in vitro egg laying of Trichogramma galloi and T. pretiosum using plastic membranes

An artificial host egg was developed as a first attempt to improve the techniques for in vitro rearing of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae). Plastic membranes (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) of different thickness were tested for their usefulness in manufacturing artificial eggs, using a thermal system to produce semi-spherical cupules on the plastic surface. These artificial eggs were filled with larval hemolymph of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), and the optimal size of the artificial egg and density of females/artificial egg for the highest host acceptance (percentage of artificial eggs with at least one parasitoid egg) as well as the ideal level of parasitism (eggs/artificial egg) were determined. High-density polyethylene 7–8 and 9–10 m thick resulted in the best acceptance and level of parasitization for both parasitoid species. Six females per artificial egg resulted in the best rate of parasitization for these parasitoids, although these data were not different when using 4 or 5 females of T. galloi. The size, shape and surface texture of the artificial eggs were found to provide enough cues to elicit parasitization behavior in Trichogramma females, since no chemical stimulus was provided.     

Size and material of model parasitic eggs affect the rejection response of Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli

Given the high costs of brood parasitism, avian hosts have adopted different defences to counteract parasites by ejecting the foreign egg or by deserting the parasitized nest. These responses depend mainly on the relative size of the host compared with the parasitic egg. Small hosts must deal with an egg considerably larger than their own, so nest desertion becomes the only possible method of egg rejection in these cases. The use of artificial model eggs made of hard material in egg‐recognition experiments has been criticized because hard eggs underestimate the frequency of egg ejection. However, no available studies have investigated the effect of softer material. Here, we test the potential effect of size of dummy parasitic eggs in relation to egg‐rejection behaviour (egg ejection and nest desertion rates) in Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli, a small host, using plasticine non‐mimetic eggs of three different sizes. In addition, we tested the potential effect of material, comparing ejection and desertion responses between real and plasticine eggs. As predicted, small eggs were always ejected, whereas nest desertion occurred more frequently with large eggs, thus suggesting that nest desertion occurs because of the constraints imposed by the large eggs. We found that plasticine may misrepresent the responses to experimental parasitism, at least in small host species, because this material facilitates egg ejection, provoking a decrease in nest desertion rate. Thus, particular caution is needed in the interpretation of the results in egg‐rejection experiments performed using dummy eggs made of soft materials.     

Counterstrategy to Egg Dumping in a Coreid Bug: Recipient Individuals Discard Eggs from Their Backs

The golden egg bug, Phyllomorpha laciniata Vill. (Heteroptera: Coreidae), is the only terrestrial insect in which females oviposit on the backs of female and male conspecifics. Eggs do not survive unless carried by a bug. Herein, I report laboratory observations that egg-carrying individuals actively brush their backs against the host plant seemingly in an effort to rub off eggs. Egg scraping is more common among individuals carrying many eggs than among those carrying only a few eggs. The most recently received eggs were rubbed off first. Females did not avoid laying eggs on the backs of egg-loaded individuals, nor did bugs carrying several eggs resist oviposition attempts more often than unloaded ones. Some males were likely to have fertilized the eggs they scraped off their backs. Laboratory results of active egg removal correspond with egg loss in the field, suggesting that egg scraping may explain egg loss in nature. The data indicate a cost of egg carrying to an individual and an evolutionary arms race between oviposition and discarding behavior.     

Egg-dumping lace bugs preferentially oviposit with kin

Egg dumping, or abandoning eggs and young to the care of other conspecifics, results in an extreme form of alloparental care. It is unclear, however, if egg dumpers discriminate among kin and nonkin egg recipients. In the lace bug Gargaphia solani (Heteroptera: Tingidae), some females with eggs (guards) also accept and defend eggs of conspecifics. Other females (egg dumpers) abandon their offspring after oviposition, leaving a single guard as the caregiver. We asked if egg dumpers preferentially dump their eggs among unguarded eggs of kin or nonkin. When given a choice between dumping among eggs of full siblings and eggs of nonsiblings, most eggs (67%) were dumped with full siblings' eggs. Furthermore, egg dumpers were just as likely to oviposit among eggs of kin with whom they had interacted on a shared host plant during juvenile development as they were to oviposit with kin reared on different host plants. Thus, egg dumpers discriminate kin by using cues associated with eggs, and such cues are not likely to be acquired through interaction on a common host plant environment. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Host‐specific parasitism in the Central American striped cuckoo,Tapera naevia

Coevolutionary theories of brood parasite strategy and host defense have been informed by research on egg mimicry and host recognition. However, there is no information on the strategies of New World parasitic cuckoos and their hosts. The striped cuckoo Tapera naevia is a New World cuckoo that uses multiple host species and maintains an egg color polymorphism. To investigate if color‐matching influenced rejection behavior in hosts, I conducted an egg rejection experiment on a host that lays blue‐green eggs, the rufous‐and‐white wren Thryophilus rufalbus and a host that lays white eggs, the plain wren Cantorchilus modestus. I used spectrophotometric analysis of egg color to determine the degree of egg color‐matching. I found that at the field site the striped cuckoo lays highly mimetic eggs for the rufous‐and‐white wren, in both color and brightness. The rufous‐and‐white wren was more likely to accept mimetic artificial eggs than non‐mimetic eggs. The plain wren exhibited low rejection rates for both mimetic and non‐mimetic artificial eggs. The evidence from this study indicates that the striped cuckoo lays eggs that are closely color‐matched to those of its preferred host, the rufous‐and‐white wren, and that this mimicry improves acceptance.     

Oviposition Sites of the Cypress Seed Bug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orsillus maculatus</Emphasis> and Response of the Egg Parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Telenomus</Emphasis> gr. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Floridanus</Emphasis>

Phytophagous insects have many strategies to escape parasitoids, for example by hiding eggs into plant tissues, but oviposition in holes made by another insect is rather scarce. The cypress seed bug Orsillus maculatus Fieber (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) is strictly dependent on the availability of cones of Cupressus sempervirens L. to oviposit. Females lay eggs either in exit holes cut through the cone scale by emerging adults of the cypress seed chalcid, Megastigmus wachtli Seitner (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), or on the inner side of scales of partly open cones. A recently discovered egg parasitoid belonging to the genus Telenomus has been shown to attack bug eggs in both oviposition sites. In this paper we investigated the parasitoid performance according to oviposition sites. Field samplings were conducted in two evergreen cypress orchards located in the south of France. The distribution and condition of the egg patches were compared between the two locations and oviposition sites. Seed bugs preferred to oviposit in emergence holes of M. wachtli, and parasitoid performance was higher in eggs laid on cone scales. The chalcid emergence holes seemed to ensure bug eggs with enemy-free space. Oviposition site selection could be an adaptive strategy to escape parasitoid attack.     

卵液成分改变及卵表涂施引诱剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂产卵发育的影响

试验通过部分改变人造卵卵液成分和在人造卵表涂施引诱剂2种途径来试图提高人造卵繁育玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Panget Chen的成功率。结果表明,不同比例的亚洲玉米螟OstriniafurnacalisGuenée幼虫和蛹匀浆替代部分柞蚕蛹匀浆后,对赤眼蜂寄生率有明显提高,但赤眼蜂在人造卵内的化蛹率和羽化率均较低,赤眼蜂发育至老熟幼虫因卵液过剩而被淹死;在原卵液卵表涂施亚洲玉米螟卵和鳞片正己烷提取液后,评价繁蜂成功率的各项参数都有明显提高,赤眼蜂可以完成发育,羽化成蜂,但繁蜂成功率还较低。综合上述试验结果,应用人造卵繁殖玉米螟赤眼蜂研究重点要解决卵液过剩以及其它相关的营养学问题。     

Effects of female wasp accessory secretions, host fat body, and host hemolymph on protein synthesis and egg viability in Microplitis croceipes (Braconidae)

Effects of female wasp reproductive gland secretions, host fat body and hemolymph, and mechanical constriction of the parasitoid egg on protein synthesis were studied in eggs of Microplitis croceipes (Braconidae) dissected from the wasp ovary. Protein synthesis was measured by 35S-methionine incorporation in eggs held in tissue culture medium for 16 h after treatment. Synthesis was stimulated in oocytes obtained from three regions of the ovary (egg tube, reservoir, and calyx) by fat body and venom gland but not by calyx fluid. A combination of fat body, venom gland, and calyx fluid did not enhance the level of synthesis relative to that of fat body or venom gland alone. Host hemolymph inhibited protein synthesis when incubated directly with the dissected eggs but not when the eggs were collected from an artificial oviposition substrate (AOS) containing hemolymph. The inhibitory effect of the hemolymph is thought to be due to the occurrence of melanization. Mechanical constriction did not alter the rate of synthesis, confirming an earlier report that synthesis in newly deposited eggs in ongoing and is not dependent on mechanical activation during the act of oviposition. Mechanisms responsible for sustaining protein synthesis in eggs for 16 h in vitro after their exposure to host hemolymph in the AOSs or fat body and venom gland are not known. Only a small percentage (less than 2%) of dissected ovarial reservoir oocytes that were mechanically constricted and exposed to the venom gland, calyx fluid, and host fat body hatched in vitro. In contrast, an earlier study demonstrated that 38% of eggs oviposited by female wasps into AOSs developed and hatched.     

Host preference: parasitism, emergence and development of Trissolcus semistriatus (Hym., Scelonidae) in various host eggs

Abstract: Trissolcus semistriatus is an important egg parasitoid of the sunn bug, Eurygaster integriceps. Conservation and the supportive augmentation of populations of egg parasitoids appears to offer high potential for the biological control of sunn bug in an integrated pest management system. The present study was conducted to determine the host preference of T. semistriatus on various heteropteran host eggs. When each host species was examined separately, the eggs of E. integriceps, Dolycoris baccarum, Graphosoma lineatum, Carpocoris pudicus and Holcostethus vernalis, were parasitized at high levels, namely 88.0, 83.6, 94.8, 87.3 and 80.8%, respectively, whereas a smaller portion of Eurydema ornatum eggs were parasitized (24.0%). There was no parasitism in Nezara viridula eggs by T. semistriatus. Similar high rates were recorded for the percentage of adult emergence in each host species, with the exception of E. ornatum. The average development time was shorter for males than for females. The average development period for both male and female was significantly longer in eggs of E. ornatum than in those of the other host species. These results and observations recorded during the experiments showed that G. lineatum and D. baccarum were available, cheap hosts and it was demonstrated that these hosts could be used for the mass production of egg parasitoids.