2种瓢虫捕食烟粉虱行为的时间分配策略

【背景】沙巴拟刀角瓢虫和越南斧瓢虫是自东南亚地区引进的粉虱类害虫的优势捕食性天敌,然而其控制烟粉虱的有效性尚未明确。【方法】在室内研究了2种瓢虫幼虫捕食烟粉虱若虫时取食、爬行与休息等行为的时间分配,以及2种瓢虫幼虫和成虫在既定时间内对烟粉虱的取食时间和取食量。【结果】随着瓢虫幼虫龄期的增大,其取食烟粉虱低龄和高龄若虫的时间和休息时间均逐渐减少,而爬行寻找猎物的时间逐渐增多。沙巴拟刀角瓢虫幼虫取食烟粉虱各虫态的时间显著长于越南斧瓢虫幼虫,取食量也显著大于后者;而沙巴拟刀角瓢虫成虫取食烟粉虱的时间长于越南斧瓢虫成虫,但取食量明显低于后者。【结论与意义】2种瓢虫对烟粉虱都有较好的捕食作用,但其时间分配策略有所不同。因此,应根据田间烟粉虱的发生时期,选择合适的瓢虫进行释放。     

日本刀角瓢虫形态特征及生物学特性研究

日本刀角瓢虫是粉虱类害虫的重要捕食性天敌之一.本文详细地描述了日本刀角瓢虫的形态特征,并附有各虫态的特征图.且对日本刀角瓢虫的生活习性进行了观察,以烟粉虱卵为食料,日本刀角瓢虫世代发育历期平均为22.56天,成虫平均寿命为91.94天,平均每雌产卵量为564.8粒;以烟粉虱若虫为食料,日本刀角虫世代发育历期平均为21.70天,成虫平均寿命为81.62天,平均每雌产卵量为650.0粒;瓢虫可捕食烟粉虱的卵、若虫、"蛹"、成虫各虫态,是烟粉虱的有效天敌,具有很好的保护利用价值.     

烟粉虱天敌沙巴拟刀角瓢虫与越南斧瓢虫的捕食行为比较

在实验室条件下研究了沙巴拟刀角瓢虫Serangiella sababensis Sasaji与越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuzne tsov and Ren对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Genna dius)卵的捕食行为及各种行为的时间分配。2种瓢虫的捕食过程非常相似,大致可以分为搜寻、取食、清洁、静息、整翅和排泄6个部分。在整个捕食过程中,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫在饥饿状态下,其各行为所占的时间为爬行时间>取食时间>静息时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间,而在非饥饿状态下,各行为所占的时间为爬行时间>静息时间>取食时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间;对于越南斧瓢虫来讲,饥饿状态下各行为所占的时间比例为爬行时间>静息时间>取食时间>清洁时间>猎物处置时间,而在非饥饿状态,越南斧瓢虫用在取食方面的时间很少,仅长于处置猎物的时间。2种瓢虫相比,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫用在爬行和取食方面的时间要比越南斧瓢虫长,而用在静息和清洁方面的时间比越南斧瓢虫短。     

广重粉蛉对烟粉虱的捕食作用研究

【目的】广重粉蛉Semidalis aleyrodiformis(Stephens)是烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)的重要天敌昆虫之一,为了明确其控制潜能,本文研究了广重粉蛉对烟粉虱的捕食作用。【方法】在室内温度(26±1)℃,相对湿度75%±5%,光照周期L∶D=14∶10条件下,对广重粉蛉幼虫捕食烟粉虱各个虫态的捕食作用进行研究。并且评估了广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱卵、广重粉蛉成虫对烟粉虱若虫和伪蛹的捕食功能反应模型,同时,对广重粉蛉成虫捕食烟粉虱卵的干扰反应方程进行了拟合。【结果】广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱的捕食量随着广重粉蛉龄期的增大而增大。广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱卵的功能反应和广重粉蛉成虫对烟粉虱各个虫态的捕食功能反应都呈HollingⅡ型。随着广重粉蛉龄期的增加,广重粉蛉对烟粉虱卵的寻找效率(a)逐渐增加,处置时间(Th)依次缩短;而广重粉蛉成虫对不同龄期烟粉虱的功能反应是随着猎物龄期的增加,寻找效率逐渐降低,处置时间(Th)依次延长。广重粉蛉自身密度方程为E=0.127 9×P-0.317 3,干扰系数为0.317 3。【结论】研究表明,广重粉蛉4龄幼虫和雌成虫对烟粉虱有较好的捕食作用,控害潜力最大。     

越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食作用

【目的】烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)是一种外来入侵性的重大农业害虫,越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov&Ren是其重要的捕食性天敌之一,本文系统研究了越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食作用。【方法】在温度误差为±1℃,相对湿度为75%,光照周期为L︰D=14︰10条件下,测定瓢虫成虫对烟粉虱各虫态的功能反应和不同温度下对烟粉虱4龄若虫的功能反应以及测定瓢虫成虫取食烟粉虱4龄若虫个体间的干扰反应。【结果】结果表明,越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的功能反应呈HollingⅡ型,随着猎物龄期的增加,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率(a)逐渐降低,处置时间(Th)基本依次延长。温度对瓢虫的捕食效应影响显著,试验所设温度为15,20,25,30,35℃,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率(a)分别为0.3226,0.4496,0.5868,0.5788和0.6235,处置时间(Th)分别为0.2348,0.1451,0.1039,0.0904和0.0976,均与温度(T)则呈二次曲线关系。越南斧瓢虫对烟粉虱4龄若虫的捕食作用率(E)在捕食者密度较低(在1~5头)时,捕食作用率下降较快,而在捕食者>6时,其对捕食作用率的影响效果减小。寻找系数为0.0607,干扰系数为0.5569。【结论】随着猎物龄期的增加,越南斧瓢虫成虫的寻找效率降低,处置时间延长;越南斧瓢虫成虫对烟粉虱4龄若虫的寻找效率随着温度的升高而提高,而在更高的温度条件下,其寻找效率略有下降。瓢虫对烟粉虱的处置时间则随着温度的升高而不断缩短;越南斧瓢虫成虫自身密度对其捕食作用产生干扰反应,捕食作用率随着捕食者密度的增加而降低。     

冷藏温度对日本刀角瓢虫存活及生长发育的影响

【目的】本研究旨在调查不同冷藏温度下日本刀角瓢虫Serangium japanicum成虫生物学特性及F₁代的生长发育,明确日本刀角瓢虫成虫最适冷藏温度。【方法】将日本刀角瓢虫成虫置于不同低温(7,10,13和16℃),贮藏10 d时测定其存活率、单雌产卵量、寿命和对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci 4龄若虫的日捕食量,以及日本刀角瓢虫F₁代存活率和发育历期;qRT-PCR测定日本刀角瓢虫成虫体内热激蛋白基因Hsp70和Hsp90的相对表达量。【结果】日本刀角瓢虫成虫在16℃低温贮藏10 d时,其存活率、雌雄成虫寿命、单雌产卵量和日捕食量以及F₁代存活率均与贮藏在26℃的对照无显著差异(存活率：99%vs 100%;雌成虫寿命：110.65 d vs 106.87 d;雄成虫寿命：123.12 d vs 108.79 d;单雌产卵量：399.19粒vs 422.63粒;日捕食量：34.70头vs 31.95头;F₁代存活率：80.39%vs 94.12%);但其F₁代发育历期...     

捕虱管蓟马的捕食、交配和产卵行为

观察了捕虱管蓟马的多种行为,认为该虫的日常行为为取食、行走、搜索、休息、交配和产卵;对所试验的5种害虫的喜好程度依次为椭圆蚧卵,柑桔木虱卵、褐圆蚧卵、柑桔粉虱卵、桔全爪螨若虫,褐圆蚧若虫、桔全爪螨卵、椭圆蚧若虫、柑桔木虱一龄 若虫,除柑桔木虱一龄若虫外,取食差异不显;捕虱管蓟马取食卵的量比若虫多,经T－检验分析,两无明显差异;室内饲养蓟马和田间采获蓟马的行为,及各行行为间差异,通过二因素方差分析显示不显;不同虫态蓟马取食时间长短依次为雌成虫、雄成虫、若虫、在食物充足的情况下,不同虫态之间几乎没有竞争,偶有成虫捕食幼虫现象发生。对该虫的交配行为及产卵行为作了详细的观察,发现雌蓟马成虫和雄蓟马成虫都多次交配;雄虫之间的性竞争十分激烈,而雌虫之间几乎没有竞争。     

日本刀角瓢虫对不同番茄品种的产卵选择性及其影响因素

【目的】明确日本刀角瓢虫Serangium japonicum对叶毛密度和类型不同的番茄Lycopersiconesculentum品种的产卵选择性。【方法】以4个番茄品种(砧木101、闽粉樱1号、砧木301和以色列超级金刚)作为日本刀角瓢虫的寄主植物,观察番茄叶片背面超微结构,统计叶片背面叶毛类型及密度;用叶蝶法和植株法测定日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫在带烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci卵的4个番茄品种上的产卵量占比;并测定日本刀角瓢虫在这4个番茄品种叶片上的子代及成虫表现(生长发育、繁殖和捕食能力)以及对叶片的附着力,雌成虫对4个番茄品种健康叶片和受烟粉虱为害叶片的气味选择以及4个番茄品种叶碟和植株上日本刀角瓢虫卵被同类捕食的风险。【结果】4个番茄品种叶片背面叶毛类型均具有非腺毛和腺毛,其中,非腺毛有Ⅱ, Ⅲ和Ⅴ型,腺毛有Ⅰ, Ⅳ Ⅵ和Ⅶ型,且均以Ⅴ型非腺毛密度最高。以色列超级金刚叶片背面的叶毛密度显著低于其他3个供试番茄品种。日本刀角瓢虫偏好在以色列超级金刚上产卵,在以色列超级金刚、砧木101和闽粉樱1号上的繁殖力(165~223.92粒/雌)显著高于在砧木301上的(2809粒/雌)。日本刀角瓢虫子代由卵发育至成虫的历期在闽粉樱1号上最短(15.73 d),在砧木101上最长(23.00 d)。日本刀角瓢虫在4个番茄品种上的产卵选择性与子代表现及亲代表现无显著相关性,而与日本刀角瓢虫卵的被捕食风险存在显著正相关关系。日本刀角瓢虫在4个番茄品种上的产卵选择性与日本刀角瓢虫对番茄叶片的附着力及番茄叶片上各类型叶毛密度均无显著相关性。番茄的7种叶毛类型其叶毛密度在4个番茄品种上都存在显著差异,除番茄Ⅰ型腺毛密度与日本刀角瓢虫的繁殖力(30 d内单雌产卵量)存在显著负相关关系外,其他6种类型的叶毛密度与日本刀角瓢虫子代表现及亲代表现均无显著相关性。日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫对4个番茄品种的气味无明显偏好。日本刀角瓢虫卵在4个番茄品种叶蝶和植株上的被捕食比例差异显著。【结论】日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫偏好在叶毛密度低的番茄品种叶片上产卵,番茄腺毛对日本刀角瓢虫成虫生命活动影响显著。     

益害虫比对沙巴拟刀角瓢虫与越南斧瓢虫捕食烟粉虱行为的影响

在实验室条件下研究了烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci Gennadius若虫不同密度、既定烟粉虱密度不同天敌数量两种条件下,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫Serangiella sababensis Sasaji和越南斧瓢虫Axinoscymnus apioides Kuznetsov & Ren的捕食行为.研究结果表明,但烟粉虱若虫密度从5增加到40头/cm2,沙巴拟刀角瓢虫和越南斧瓢虫搜寻猎物的时间,随着粉虱密度的增加而逐渐减少;取食猎物的时间,随着粉虱密度的增加而逐渐增加;对烟粉虱若虫的取食量也随密度的增加呈上升趋势.两种瓢虫相比,在既定猎物密度的情况下,刀角瓢虫搜寻、取食烟粉虱的时间要显著长于斧瓢虫所用的时间,但对烟粉虱的取食量明显低斧瓢虫的取食量.在固定粉虱数量的情况下,当瓢虫数量从1头增加到3头时,单头刀角瓢虫和斧瓢虫对烟粉虱的取食量逐渐减少,个体间的干扰作用逐渐显现.     

日本刀角瓢虫对不同叶毛密度茄子品种的产卵选择性

【目的】产卵是昆虫发育过程中繁衍后代、维持种群数量的重要环节。在前期研究发现日本刀角瓢虫Serangium japonicum喜欢在茄子Solanum melongena叶片上产卵的前提下,本研究旨在深入探究日本刀角瓢虫对不同叶毛密度茄子品种的产卵选择性,以期进一步明确植物叶毛介导的日本刀角瓢虫产卵选择机制。【方法】观察日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫在4个茄子品种(黑到底、黑妞、日友长直壮、络星)叶碟和植株上的产卵选择性,测定不同茄子品种上日本刀角瓢虫后代的生长发育及成虫的繁殖力、捕食能力和对叶片的附着力,观察4个茄子品种叶片背面超微结构,测定日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫对茄子叶片的气味选择,测量茄子叶片上烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci卵粒的长度和宽度,测定日本刀角瓢虫卵被其雌成虫的同类捕食风险。【结果】日本刀角瓢虫偏好在黑到底上产卵,后代个体在黑到底品种上总发育历期(15.41±0.21 d)最短,亲代单雌产卵量(877.44±15.27粒/头)最高。但是,日本刀角瓢虫的产卵量占比与子代生长表现(发育历期、存活率和成虫体重)和成虫生存表现(繁殖力和捕食能力)均无显著相关性,而与叶片背面叶毛密度和长度存在显著正相关性;日本刀角瓢虫在茄子叶碟上的产卵量占比与日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫附着力存在显著正相关性。日本刀角瓢虫雌成虫附着力与叶毛密度显著正相关,而与亲代生长表现无显著相关关系。茄子叶片气味、猎物质量以及被同类捕食风险均不显著影响日本刀角瓢虫的产卵选择。【结论】茄子叶片背面叶毛密度及叶毛介导的日本刀角瓢虫附着力在日本刀角瓢虫对茄子叶片的产卵选择性中起重要作用。     

Factors affecting the rate of attack by Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract. 1. The relationship between responses of the insect parasitoid Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) to kairomones produced by the feeding activities of its host, Pieris rapae (L.), and patterns of parasitism were investigated under field conditions.
2. Parasitoid adults aggregated in patches with the highest densities of host larvae but there was no commensurate increase in the rate of attack in these patches.
3. The rate of attack was not limited by the availability of eggs.
4. The rate of parasitoid attack was highest where feeding damage by the host was highest, irrespective of current host density.
5. The rate of parasitoid attack was further influenced by host age distribution. Late instar larvae were less susceptible to parasitism than were early instar larvae. The rate of attack on early instar larvae occupying the same plants as late instar larvae was reduced. This reduction in rate of attack was due to limitations on parasitoid search time imposed by the increased feeding damage associated with large host larvae and by the increased time the parasitoid required to recover from an attack on these large host larvae.     

菜粉蝶与其寄主植物金莲花

观察了用金莲花(TropaeolummajusL.)饲养的菜粉蝶PierisrapaeL.的发育情况,表明金莲花能使菜粉蝶完成世代发育,是其理想的寄主植物。国外有研究表明:将金莲花上取食的幼虫人为地转移到十字花科或其它寄主植物上,幼虫可正常取食,并最后发育为成虫;反之,将十字花科植物上取食的2龄至5龄的幼虫转移到金莲花上,则拒食外迁,最后全都饿死。然而,若将小麦胚芽人工饲料上饲养的幼虫转移到金莲花上,则幼虫正常取食。这是由于菜粉蝶幼虫在十字花科植物上取食的1龄阶段发展了对金莲花植株内所含的取食抑制化合物的敏感性,而在小麦胚芽人工饲料上取食的幼虫因一直接触取食抑制化合物而不对金莲花所含的取食抑制化合物产生敏感性之故。化学提取和昆虫行为实验证明,在金莲花中所含的取食抑制化合物的主要成分是绿原酸。     

Movement and feeding patterns of Epilachna cucurbitae Richards (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) on pumpkin and zucchini plants2

The oviposition patterns of adults and the movement and feeding patterns of larvae of Epilachna cucurbitae on two species of cucurbits, Cucurbita maxima cv Queensland Blue and C. pepo cv Blackjack, were studied in the field and laboratory. The physical and nutritional characteristics of host plant leaves of different ages were described. Younger leaves had higher nitrogen contents but were less abundant, smaller and had higher trichome densities than older leaves. The development of first instar larvae was delayed by the leaf hairs on young and mature pumpkin leaves which prevented larvae from reaching the leaf surface to feed First instal larvae developed more quickly on leaves rich in nitrogen. Neither the total developmental time of larvae nor the size of pupae was affected by leafage because larvae on poor quality leaves compensated by eating more. Female beetles oviposited on all but the youngest and oldest leaves of the host plant. The trichomes on young leaves prevented females from attaching eggs to the leaf surface. First instar larvae remained where they hatched, but older larvae were more mobile, Changing feeding sites frequently and moving progressively to younger, more nutritious leaves. Final instar larvae moved onto adjacent vegetation to pupate. The adaptive significance of these patterns is discussed in relation to the nutritional value, hairiness and abundance of host plant leaves of different ages and the physical limitations of different larval instars.     

美丽青背姬小蜂生物学特性研究

美丽青背姬小蜂Chrysonotomyiaformosa（Westwood）是美洲斑潜蝇的优势天敌,在美洲 斑潜蝇的自然控制中发挥着非常重要的作用。本文对其生物学进行了研究,结果表明：在实验 温度范围内,随着温度的升高,寄生蜂羽化趋早,羽化时间更集中,羽化高峰也更明显;随着 温度的升高,成蜂的寿命逐渐缩短。在提供清水时,寄主可以显著地延长雌蜂的寿命;在有寄 主时,提供10%蜂蜜水,雌蜂的寿命显著延长。美丽青背姬小蜂对3龄寄主幼虫有偏好,对3龄寄 主幼虫的致死率和寄生率都高于对1～2龄寄主幼虫的,且产下后代的雌雄性比为5.11∶1。在 实验温度范围内,发育历期随温度的升高而缩短。     

Laboratory experiments on factors affecting oviposition site selection in Toxorhynchites amboinensis (Diptera: Culicidae), with a report on the occurrence of egg cannibalism

Laboratory experiments tested the effects of water quality and the presence of conspecific and heterospecific immatures on oviposition by Toxorhynchites amboinensis (Doleschall). The females showed a highly significant preference for oak leaf infusion water over distilled water. When twenty starved third and fourth instar Tx.amboinensis larvae were present in the water, substantially fewer eggs were counted from pots containing these conspecifics, than from controls in which no larvae were present. Numbers of eggs from pots containing starved second instar larvae did not differ significantly from controls. Observations of larval behaviour while oviposition was occurring suggested that egg numbers were reduced in containers because of egg cannibalism with third and fourth instar larvae, and not because the larvae caused a deterrent effect. Subsequent experiments confirming the occurrence of substantial egg cannibalism by third and especially fourth instar larvae are described. As with larvae, the presence of Tx.amboinensis pupae in the water had little effect on oviposition. If placed in the water 24 h prior to test, pupae very slightly enhanced its attractiveness, but if introduced immediately before test there appeared to be a slight deterrent effect. With heterospecific larvae, twenty fourth instar Ae.aegypti larvae introduced into infusion water 24 h before test rendered the water slightly attractive, while water in which Ae.aegypti larvae had been reared for 48 h proved highly repellent.     

不同波段LED光源对毛健夜蛾行为的影响

为探明不同波段LED光对毛健夜蛾Brithys crini (Fabricius)行为的影响, 在实验条件下观察了4种不同波段（红光： 620~625 nm; 绿光： 520~523 nm; 蓝色： 465~467 nm; 白光： 460~465 nm）LED光源下毛健夜蛾幼虫的假死、 爬行、 静止、 取食、 排便、 瞭望及其他行为和成虫交配及产卵行为。结果表明： （1）毛健夜蛾幼虫在红光、 绿光、 蓝光和白光4种LED光源下, 爬行、 静止和取食行为时间分配差异极显著（爬行、 静止和取食： P=0.000）, 红光组爬行的时间占98.06%, 绿光组取食时间占83.65%, 蓝光组爬行和静止时间占91.56%, 白光组爬行时间占61.16%; 爬行、 静止、 取食、 瞭望及其他行为发生率差异显著, 红光组和白光组爬行行为发生率最高, 分别为47.37%和32.00%, 绿光组取食行为发生率最高为40.00%, 蓝光组爬行行为发生率最高为32.35%; （2）毛健夜蛾跌落幼虫在4种LED光源下, 假死发生率差异不显著, 但假死持续时间有显著性差异, 红光组假死持续时间显著长于蓝光组和白光组; （3）4种LED光源处理后, 交配和未交配的单雌产卵量无显著差异; （4）第1-2天的暗期分别使用4种光源, 则交配和产卵高峰均出现在第3天的暗期, 而第1-2天的暗期不使用光源, 则交配和产卵高峰出现在第1天的暗期。这些研究结果初步揭示了不同波段光源对毛健夜蛾行为影响不同。     

Insights into How Longicorn Beetle Larvae Determine the Timing of Metamorphosis: Starvation-Induced Mechanism Revisited

Larvae of holometabolous insects must determine the timing of their metamorphosis. How they determine this timing has only been studied in detail for a few insect species. In a few species of Coleoptera, starvation is known to be a cue for metamorphosis, leading to the formation of smaller adults (starvation-induced pupation, SiP). We investigated the occurrence of SiP in the beetle Psacothea hilaris. When P. hilaris larvae were starved late in the feeding phase of the last (5th) instar, they exhibited typical SiP characterized by constancy of the time from food deprivation to pupation (TTP) irrespective of the body weight upon food deprivation or the length of prior feeding. In contrast, when larvae were starved early in the feeding phase, TTP decreased by roughly 1 day as the feeding became 1 day longer. The change in the response to starvation was estimated to occur on day 5.9 in the last instar. A series of refeeding experiments suggested that whereas SiP occurred readily in the larvae starved in the late feeding phase, activation of SiP was suspended until day 5.9 in the larvae starved early in the feeding phase. When P. hilaris larvae were fed continuously, they eventually ceased feeding spontaneously and pupated. The time length between spontaneous cessation of feeding and pupation was approximately equal to the TTP in SiP. This suggests that the same mechanism was activated by food deprivation in the late feeding phase and by spontaneous cessation of ad libitum feeding.     

Asymmetric effects of adult nutrition on reproductive success of male and female Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae)

The role of diet supplements (honey, water or no supplements) on egg maturation, oviposition strategy and longevity of the parasitic wasp Diaeretiella rapae McIntosh (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) is investigated. Parasitoids feed as larvae on hosts to acquire nutrition for growth and development, and further gain additional resources during their adult stage by feeding on either host or nonhost resources. The additional resources acquired by adults can help them to increase their reproductive activity or life expectancy, or both. Diaeretiella rapae females emerge with some developed eggs and no additional resources are required for egg maturation or successful oviposition. Females are able to oviposit and produce viable offspring immediately after emergence, and the number of eggs left in the ovaries of females decreases with subsequent oviposition, suggesting that ovigeny index of D. rapae is inclined towards pro‐ovigenic status. When unmated males and females are offered honey solution, females are attracted to it, whereas males display courtship and make mating attempts but then feed on honey after mating. The oviposition efficiency of female D. rapae increases by 30% when they feed on honey compared with when starved. Honey‐fed D. rapae adults live significantly longer (almost twice as long) than starved adults. Honey‐fed females deprived of hosts live longer than those offered hosts regularly. The positive effects of honey‐feeding on longevity are greater in females than in males. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that the provision of additional resources to adult D. rapae parasitoids could enhance their life expectancy and parasitism efficiency in biological control programmes.     

Reproductive biology of the microtype tachinid fly Zenillia dolosa (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Reproductive biology including mating, adult longevity, fecundity and development of the tachinid fly Zenillia dolosa was investigated for optimizing rearing procedures using Mythimna separata as a host in the laboratory. Females lay microtype eggs containing a first instar larva on food plants of the host and then the eggs must be ingested by the host for parasitization. Mating success was 58.5% with mating duration of 80.7 min. Mating was most successful when day 0–1 females were kept with day 2–4 male flies. Female body size was positively correlated with its fecundity but not with longevity. However, females that survived longer produced more eggs during their lifetime. Parasitoids successfully developed in 4th to 6th instar host larvae. Host instars at the time of parasitoid egg ingestion significantly influenced development time of the immature parasitoid, but did not affect body size of the emerging parasitoid. We suggest that pairing newly emerged females with day 2–4 males should result in higher mating success and using the last instar hosts for parasitization should minimize development time of the parasitoid for rearing.