松毛虫卵期几种寄生蜂的共寄生现象及其对寄生率的影响

松毛虫赤眼蜂Ｔｒｉｃｈｏｇｒａｍｍａｄｅｎｄｒｏｌｉｍ　Ｍａｔｓｕｍｕｒａ,白跗平腹小蜂ＰｓｅｕｄａｎａｓｔａｔｕｓａｌｂｉｔａｒｓｉｓＡｓｈｍｅａｄ,松毛虫宽缘金小蜂Ｐａｃｈｙｎｅｕｒｏｎ　ｓｏｌｉｔａｒｉｕｍ（Ｈａｒｔｉｇ）,松毛虫黑卵蜂Ｔｅｌｅｎｏ－ｍｕｓ　ｄｅｎｄｒｏｌｉｍｕｓｉ　Ｃｈｕ和大蛾卵跳小蜂Ｏｏｅｎｃｙｒｔｕｓｋｕｗａｎａｅ（Ｈｏｗａｒｄ）是松毛虫卵期几种主要寄生蜂。通过对上述几种寄生蜂寄生习性的研究表明：赤眼蜂和平腹小蜂不但能寄生新鲜害虫卵,还可以寄生对方已寄生并已发育１—３天的寄生卵,但羽化率均不高;松毛虫宽缘金小峰不寄生新鲜害虫卵,专门寄生赤眼蜂寄生后已发育１—７天的寄生卵,其中又以赤眼蜂发育３—５天的卵寄生率和羽化率为最高。除赤眼蜂和平腹小蜂可以混合使用外,其它蜂种混用都不同程度地存在相互排挤的现象。如果先让平腹小蜂寄生尔后再让赤眼蜂寄生或先让赤眼蜂寄生,尔后再让跳小蜂或黑卵蜂寄生,能够提高卵块寄生率和充分发挥各自天敌的作用。     

米蛾对三种赤眼蜂的适合性及被寄生后卵内游离氨基酸含量的变化

寄生发生前寄生蜂的寄生行为及寄生发生后寄生蜂的生长发育情况能够反映出寄主对寄生蜂的适合性，而寄生蜂对寄主营养物质的吸收和利用是寄生蜂完成发育的生理基础。为了从寄生蜂利用寄主营养能力的角度探讨寄主对不同种赤眼蜂适合性变化的原因，本文观察了以米蛾Corcyra cephalonica Stainton卵为寄主时拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusumViggiani、松毛虫赤眼蜂T. dendrolimi Matsumura和玉米螟赤眼蜂T. ostriniae Pang et Chen的寄生行为及发育和存活情况，测定了被寄生米蛾卵内游离氨基酸的含量 。结果发现，玉米螟赤眼蜂的产卵时间为84.9 s，显著长于拟澳洲赤眼蜂和松毛虫赤眼蜂的产卵时间。拟澳洲赤眼蜂检测寄主所需时间为30.8 s，显著长于玉米螟赤眼蜂和松毛虫赤眼蜂所需时间，但从每寄主卵中羽化出的拟澳洲赤眼蜂数量显著高于松毛虫赤眼蜂及玉米螟赤眼蜂寄生的结果。3种赤眼蜂卵+幼虫的发育历期间不存在显著差异，但卵成虫的发育历期间存在显著差异。玉米螟赤眼蜂幼虫期和预蛹期的死亡率均显著高于拟澳洲赤眼蜂和松毛虫赤眼蜂相应虫期的死亡率。这些结果表明：米蛾卵对松毛虫赤眼蜂及拟澳洲赤眼蜂的适合性高于对玉米螟赤眼蜂的适合性。未被寄生的米蛾卵内游离氨基酸的总量在24～96 h时间段内从开始的2.194 mg/mL逐渐下降到1.565 mg/mL，而被寄生的米蛾卵内游离氨基酸总量均出现先升高后下降的现象。被松毛虫赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂寄生的米蛾卵内游离氨基酸总量在48 h达到最高值，分别为4.239 mg/mL和3.222 mg/mL，被玉米螟赤眼蜂寄生的米蛾在72 h达到最高值，为4 .323 mg/mL，显示同玉米螟赤眼蜂相比，松毛虫赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂能够更快地分解利用寄主营养。这些结果提示，3种赤眼蜂利用米蛾卵内营养物质能力的不同导致了米蛾卵对3种蜂适合性的不同。     

寄生天敌对东安马尾松毛虫(Dendrolimus punctatus Walk.)数量消长作用的初步考查

1.据1954年考查,东安马尾松毛虫的天敌很多,尤其是寄生天敌,它是限制或抑制松毛虫大发生的决定性因素。 2.卵期的寄生天敌有:松毛虫黑卵蜂,赤眼蜂,平腹小蜂,白角小蜂,名和小蜂及金小蜂等六种,其中以前三种较为重要。 3.第一代松毛虫的卵寄生率为12.76％,其中黑卵峰的寄生率达5.83％,第二代松毛虫的卵寄生率为40.61％,其中黑卵蜂的寄生率达33.45％。 4.松毛虫各种卵蜂羽化时期及数量的观察,使我们初步了解卵蜂的一些生物学特性,对于今后饲放卵寄生蜂防治松毛虫的措施提供了重要依据。 5.幼虫期的寄生天敌有:两色瘦姬蜂,黑胸姬蜂,红头小茧蜂,黄甲腹小茧蜂,毒蛾绒茧蜂,寄生蝇类及白僵病菌等,其中以白僵病菌及寄生蝇类较为重要。 6.三次幼虫期寄生天敌的考查可以看出:越冬代老熟幼虫的死亡率(包括寄生率)达56.62％,第一代幼虫的死亡率(包括寄生率)达82.83％,第二代幼龄幼虫的死亡率(包括寄生率)达40.83％,幼虫期的死亡率(主要是寄生率)相当高。 7.蛹期的寄生天敌有:日本黑点姬蜂,大腿蜂,花胸姬蜂,黑瘤姬蜂,松毛虫瘤姬蜂,寄生蝇类及白僵病菌等,其中以日本黑点姬蜂、寄生蝇类及白僵病菌等较为重要,但需指出,可能是因为病菌寄生的原因,未羽化蛹的比例很大,如在越冬代占36.68％,第一代占40.11％,这是值得今后深     

不同生境源的稻飞虱卵寄生蜂对寄主的选择和寄生特眭

稻飞虱重要卵寄生蜂缨小蜂Anagrus flaveolus、A optabilis和寡索赤眼蜂Oligosita aesopi、O.Naias均能在稻田和稻田周围的非稻田生境中生存。而.Ftaveolus为优势种。不同生境来源的卵寄生蜂有着不同的寄生和选择特性。缨小蜂A.Flaveolus能在飞虱科内转换寄主,但需1～2代的适应期。寄主卵对寡索赤眼蜂O.Aesopi的寄生有较大的影响,用褐飞虱和黑尾叶蝉诱集的O.Aesopi呼;不能交叉寄生。稻田内诱集的寄生蜂选择稻飞虱,而杂草地中诱集的缨小蜂则对飞虱T.Pusanus有一定的选择性。非稻田生境对保护稻飞虱卵寄生蜂有很大的作用,但对其寄生特性有较大的影响。     

我国马尾松毛虫寄生性天敌的研究进展

马尾松毛虫Dendrolimus punctatus(Walker)的寄生性天敌主要包括寄生蜂和寄生蝇类两大类。文章列出我国马尾松毛虫主要寄生蜂58种和寄生蝇类20种的名录与寄生的虫态,着重综述了松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimiMatsumura、松毛虫黑卵蜂Telenomus dendrolumusiChu、白跗平腹小蜂Anastatus albitarsis(Ashmead)、黑足凹眼姬蜂Casinaria nigripes(Gravenhorst)、松毛虫脊茧蜂Aleiodes dendrolimi(Matsumura)等5种优势种寄生蜂的研究和应用进展,同时还介绍马尾松毛虫寄蝇在野外寄生状况、室内饲养繁殖等方面的研究概况,以期为马尾松毛虫寄生性天敌的进一步研究提供借鉴。     

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。     

东北地区四种本地赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾寄生能力及适应性研究

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(Smith)是新入侵我国的重大危险性入侵害虫,赤眼蜂是我国生物防治的优势卵寄生蜂,可用于防治多种农林作物上的鳞翅目害虫。为检测东北地区本地赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾卵的生防潜能,筛选防治草地贪夜蛾的有效蜂种,本研究比较研究了松毛虫赤眼蜂、玉米螟赤眼蜂、黏虫赤眼蜂和稻螟赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾卵的寄生能力和发育适合度。结果表明,4种赤眼蜂均能寄生草地贪夜蛾卵,并完成发育,但其寄生能力和发育适合度存在显著差异。松毛虫赤眼蜂、玉米螟赤眼蜂和黏虫赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾卵块寄生率均高于80%,但仅松毛虫赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾卵表现出较高的卵粒寄生量。松毛虫赤眼蜂、玉米螟赤眼蜂和黏虫赤眼蜂子代羽化率和雌性比无显著差异,但松毛虫赤眼蜂比其它3种赤眼蜂的发育历期更短,而稻螟赤眼蜂对草地贪夜蛾卵的寄生能力和适合度均最差。研究结果将为应用本地赤眼蜂生物防治潜在入侵东北地区的草地贪夜蛾提供技术支撑。     

松毛虫卵跳小蜂生活习性的初步观察

<正> 松毛虫卵跳小蜂Ooencyrtus sp.是落叶松毛虫卵期主要寄生蜂之一,自然寄生率24.1—30.3％,对控制松毛虫为害起重要作用。现将六年来观察的情况整理如下。 一、生活史 松毛虫卵跳小蜂,在海林林区一年发生三代。第一代蜂于6月份出现;第二代蜂7月中旬羽化,下旬达到羽化盛期;第三代蜂于8月中旬     

卵跳小蜂Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii对豆缘蝽和豆璧蝽卵的选择性和密度反应(英文)

本文研究了卵跳小蜂对豆缘蝽 (R .clavatusThunberg)和豆璧蝽 (P .hybneriGmelin)卵的选择性和密度反应。在自由选择试验中 ,两种豆蝽卵中羽化的卵跳小蜂在不同的卵密度和比例中均选择豆缘蝽 ;而在非选择性试验中 ,从豆璧蝽中羽化的卵跳小蜂同时选择豆缘蝽和豆璧蝽卵 ,寄生率较高 ;然而 ,从豆缘蝽卵羽化的卵跳小蜂对豆璧蝽卵的寄生率非常低。嗅觉试验表明 ,从豆缘蝽卵上释放的气味对卵跳小蜂的搜寻和寄生行为影响很大。卵跳小蜂寄生的卵数量随着豆缘蝽和豆璧蝽卵密度的增加而提高 ;然而 ,卵跳小蜂对豆璧蝽的寄生率随着卵的密度增加而降低 ,尤其是从豆缘蝽卵中羽化的寄生蜂。研究还表明 ,卵跳小蜂在大田中对豆缘蝽卵的寄生存在着空间或时间上的障碍。     

南京地区松毛虫 (Dendrolimus punctatus Walker)寄生天敌的初步观察

1936—37年在南京地区观察松毛虫寄生天敌所得的初步结果可简述如下: (一)南京地区业经发现的松毛虫天敌有卵寄生蜂3种:赤眼卵蜂、松毛虫长腹卵蜂、平腹小蜂;幼虫寄生蜂4种:松毛虫瘦姬蜂、松与虫红头小茧蜂、花胸姬蜂、黑基瘤姬蜂;幼虫寄生蝇3种:家蚕寄生蝇、大寄生蝇、小寄生蝇;蛹寄生蜂4种;日本黑点姬蜂、黑瘤姬蜂、大腿蜂、费氏大腿蜂;另重寄生8种。 (二)卵寄生蜂在防治松毛虫上起了适当大的作用,有时减低寄主虫口达61.24％。3种寄生蜂中以松与虫长腹卵蜂及平腹小峰为较重要。 (三)松毛虫初龄幼虫寄生率最高时可达26％。寄生率的高低及各种天敌的比较重要性与采集寄主材料的时期有密切的关系,往往数日之差,寄生率可截然不同。 (四)松与虫的后龄幼虫遭3种寄生蝇的寄生。寄生率最高可达42％。 (五)松毛虫茧期的寄生率可达38.4％,天敌中以大寄生蝇及日本黑点姬蜂为 最主要。 (六)无论在卵期、幼虫期或蛹期,第2化松毛虫的寄生率均比第1化的为高。此点似说明越冬问题是松毛虫天敌繁殖中的一个关系问题。 (七)几种比较重要的寄生天敌的发生时期和生活习性,本文中根据观察所及,加以记载。 (八)本文中将几个影响松毛虫寄生天敌虫口的因子提出讨论,这些因子包括;重寄生的严重、天敌发生时期与寄主生活史的不相     

Parasitism and predation of stink bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) eggs in Georgia corn fields

Nezara viridula L. and Euschistus servus (Say) are the predominant species of phytophagous stink bugs on corn, Zea mays L., in Georgia. Oebalus pugnax pugnax (F.) occurs in relatively low numbers, and the predatory stink bug Podisus maculiventris (Say) is commonly found. Limited information is available on natural biological control of these four stink bug species in Georgia corn fields; therefore, a 6-yr study of parasitism and predation of their eggs was initiated in 2003. Naturally occurring stink bug eggs were parasitized by six scelionid species, Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston), T. thyantae Ashmead, T. brochymenae (Ashmead), T. euschisti (Ashmead), Telenomus podisi Ashmead, Telenomus calvus Johnson, and one encyrtid species, Ooencyrtus sp. T. basalis was the most prevalent parasitoid of N. viridula, parasitizing E. servus and P. maculiventris eggs at low levels. T. podisi, the predominant parasitoid species emerging from eggs of E. servus and P. maculiventris, also parasitized O. p. pugnax eggs exclusively and parasitized N. viridula eggs at low levels. T. euschisti and T. thyantae parasitized E. servus egg masses. T. brochymenae parasitized eggs of both E. servus and P. maculiventris. T. calvus parasitized only P. maculiventris eggs. The same species of egg parasitoids that parasitized naturally occurring eggs of N. viridula and E. servus parasitized sentinel eggs of these bugs, except that no T. calvus and Ooencyrtus sp. were obtained from sentinel eggs, and T. thyantae and T. brochymenae emerged from sentinel eggs of N. viridula. Generally, parasitization of an egg mass was either greater than or equal to predation of sentinel eggs of N. viridula and E. servus. However, on some dates in late June and July, predation of sentinel egg masses was numerically approximately twice as high as parasitism. Results indicate stink bug egg parasitoids and predators are significant factors in the natural biological control of stink bugs in corn fields.     

两种赤眼蜂在半自然条件下对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索寄生能力

灰白蚕蛾Ocinara varians Walker是近几年来我国南方发生比较严重的园林害虫之一,赤眼蜂是其卵期的一种重要天敌,为寻找灰白蚕蛾有效的生物防治措施,本实验研究了半自然条件下松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura和短管赤眼蜂Trichogramma pretiosum Riley对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索寄生能力。实验结果表明,在挂卵量相同的情况下,3种不同经历的松毛虫赤眼蜂和短管赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索能力都随蜂卵比的减小而降低。在各蜂卵比下,3种不同处理的松毛虫赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的寄生率明显高于相应地3种不同处理的短管赤眼蜂。在蜂卵比为1∶1时,具有羽化后学习经历的松毛虫赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索能力最强,其寄生率达50.66%,显著高于幼期学习蜂和无经验蜂,而幼期学习经历对其搜索效果无明显地影响。短管赤眼蜂无论是羽化后学习经历还是幼期学习经历对其搜索行为均无明显影响。     

Refrigeration of Riptortus clavatus (Hemiptera: Alydidae) eggs for the parasitization by Gryon japonicum (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a solitary egg parasitoid of Riptortus clavatus (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) one of the most important pests in soybean in Korean and Japan. Refrigeration of R. clavatus eggs for up to 120 days was evaluated as a method of mass production of G. japonicum. The refrigeration reduced the eclosion of eggs, thus no nymph emerged after 30 days of egg refrigeration. Increased duration of host acceptance behaviors by G. japonicum and some detrimental effects on parasitism rate, developmental time, longevity, and adult size of the parasitoid were found in refrigerated host eggs. However, all the biological parameters of G. japonicum were unaffected by the refrigeration of up to 30 days. Gryon japonicum parasitized 16 and 14 host eggs daily that were refrigerated for 15 and 30 days, respectively, which did not differ from parasitization of fresh host eggs. Furthermore, refrigeration of host eggs did not reduce the reproduction of the emerged adult parasitoids and emergence and sex ratio of their progeny. Gryon japonicum also parasitized 14 and 13 refrigerated host eggs per day kept at 26.3°C and 78.7% RH for 2 and 4 days of post-refrigeration without significant reduction, respectively. These results show that refrigeration of R. clavatus eggs can be a good method for mass rearing of the parasitoid, and the host eggs killed by cold storage can be supplemented in the field to boost field parasitism.     

Trichogramma parasitoids alter the metabolic physiology of Manduca eggs

Egg parasitoids face unique developmental constraints. First, they have exceptionally limited resources to support themselves and their siblings through three life stages. Second, they develop within the physiological system of another species, which they modify to their own ends. We examined how these constraints affect the metabolic physiology of egg parasitism, and whether parasitoids retool their host eggshell to account for their different metabolic demands. Higher-conductance eggshells allow more oxygen to reach the developing parasitoids, but also allow more water to leave the egg. We used Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) eggs and Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitoids from southeastern AZ, USA. Compared with unparasitized Manduca eggs, eggs parasitized by Trichogramma had lower peak metabolic rates and approximately 50 per cent lower metabolic efficiency. However, developing Trichogramma were far more efficient than typical transfer efficiencies between tropic levels (approx. 10%). Even within a few hours of parasitization, eggs containing more Trichogramma had lower per-parasitoid metabolic rates, suggesting that parasitoid larvae have mechanisms for rapidly adjusting their metabolic rates based on number of siblings. Parasitoids also appear to control the conductance of their host eggshell: their different metabolic demands were mirrored by shifts in rates of water loss.     

Effect of fertilized,unfertilized, and UV‐irradiated hosts on parasitism and suitability for Trichogramma parasitoids

Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitoids have been commonly used as biological control agents in insect pest management. Host quality is believed to influence parasitism, host preference, and suitability for parasitoids. To date, limited studies have compared the parasitism of Trichogramma parasitoids on fertilized, unfertilized, and sterilized host eggs. Hence, we studied the performance of three Trichogramma egg parasitoids, Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, and Trichogramma leucaniae Pang & Chen, on fertilized, unfertilized, and ultraviolet (UV)‐irradiated fertilized (UVF) eggs of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In a no‐choice test, T. japonicum and T. leucaniae parasitized significantly more fertilized or UVF than unfertilized hosts, and T. chilonis parasitized significantly more UVF than either fertilized or unfertilized hosts. In a choice test, all three Trichogramma parasitoids parasitized UVF hosts the most, and unfertilized hosts the least. There were similar percentages of adult emergence and female progeny among fertilized, unfertilized, and UVF hosts for all three Trichogramma parasitoids, except that T. japonicum had significantly lower adult emergence on fertilized hosts. We also found that all three Trichogramma parasitoids developed slower on unfertilized hosts. Regardless of host treatments, T. leucaniae had the longest developmental time and T. chilonis had the shortest. We conclude that Trichogramma parasitoids prefer parasitizing UVF eggs of C. cephalonica without negative effects on their emergence and sex allocation.     

不同温度下松毛虫赤眼蜂孤雌产雌品系和两性生殖品系对米蛾卵的寄生功能反应

赤眼蜂部分蜂种或品系受Wolbachia侵染营孤雌产雌生殖。 通过室内试验分析了在4个恒温（20, 25, 30和35℃）下松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系对米蛾Corcyra cephalonica卵的寄生功能反应, 旨在比较不同温度两品系的寄生功能反应差异, 评价孤雌产雌品系在生物防治中的应用潜力。 结果表明： 松毛虫赤眼蜂两个品系对米蛾卵寄生作用均随寄主密度的增加而增大;随温度的升高松毛虫赤眼蜂两品系的功能反应类型由Ⅲ型改变为Ⅱ型。孤雌产雌品系以30℃的处置时间最短(0.0207 d), 最大日寄生量为48.31粒卵, 其次是25℃, 35℃最小;两性生殖品系以25℃的处置时间最短(0.0188 d), 最大日寄生量为53.08粒卵, 其次是30℃, 20℃最小; 松毛虫赤眼蜂两品系的寄生功能反应存在显著差异, 30℃下孤雌产雌品系为Ⅱ型功能反应而两性生殖品系为Ⅲ型。 从处置时间来看, 20℃时两品系无显著性差异(P≥0.05), 在25℃和35℃孤雌产雌品系寄生米蛾卵时花费的时间显著长于两性生殖品系(P<0.05), 而30℃却相反。 可见, 寄主密度、 温度和Wolbachia影响松毛虫赤眼蜂功能反应。     

A modified DNA barcode approach to define trophic interactions between native and exotic pentatomids and their parasitoids

The establishment of invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål) outside of its native range may impact native species assemblages, including other pentatomids and their scelionid parasitoids. This has generated interest in defining species diversity and host‐parasitoid associations in this system to better understand the impact of invasive alien species on trophic interactions in invaded regions. Information on scelionid–pentatomid associations in natural habitats is lacking, and species‐level identification of these associations can be tenuous using rearing and dissection techniques. Naturally occurring pentatomid eggs were collected in areas where H. halys has established in Canada and were analysed using a modified DNA barcoding approach to define species‐level trophic interactions. Identification was possible for >90% of egg masses. Eleven pentatomid and five scelionid species were identified, and trophic links were established. Approximately 70% of egg masses were parasitized; parasitism and parasitoid species composition were described for each species. Telenomus podisi Ashmead was the dominant parasitoid and was detected in all host species. Trissolcus euschisti Ashmead was detected in several host species, but was significantly more prevalent in Chinavia hilaris (Say) and Brochymena quadripustulata (Fabricius). Trissolcus brochymenae Ashmead and Tr. thyantae Ashmead were recorded sporadically. Parasitism of H. halys was 55%, and this species was significantly less likely to be parasitized than native pentatomids. The scelionid species composition of H. halys consisted of Te. podisi, Tr. euschisti and Tr. thyantae. Although these species cannot develop in fresh H. halys eggs, we demonstrate that parasitoids attempt to exploit this host under field conditions.     

Estimating parasitoid immature mortality by comparing oviposition and pupal development of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley on natural and factitious hosts

Mortality during the immature development of T. galloi and T. pretiosum was estimated on UV-killed and live eggs of a factitious and a natural host, respectively. A staining technique was used to determine the actual parasitization of UV-treated eggs and was compared with the number of parasitoids that emerged per host egg (detectable parasitization). Effects of temperature as a factor of mortality during the immature development of both parasitoids on the factitious host was also assessed. The actual and detectable parasitization of live hosts was measured by recording both the parasitization behavior and the number of eggs where a parasitoid developed successfully. Our data show that mortality during immature development of both parasitoids may occur in live eggs of the natural host. No such mortality was observed when parasitoids developed on UV-killed eggs of the factitious host. Possible causes of parasitoid immature mortality and the effects of using UV-treated eggs of factitious hosts in estimating the parasitism capacity of Trichogramma in field conditions are discussed.