Influence of breeding conditions on longevity and fecundity ofRaphitelus maculatus [Hym.: Pteromalidae] reared under standard laboratory conditions

The rearing ofRaphitelus maculatus Walker, which oviposits through the bark onto beetle larvae has been carry out under standard laboratory conditions of 22 ± 2°C, 60% R.H. and photoperiod 16L∶8D. The host (Phloeotribus scarabaeoides Bernard) has been reared by cutting fresh branches of living olive tree on which they overwinter as adults. The effect of several rearing conditions (feeding conditions) on longevity and fecundity has been tested. The time of parasitoid and host development as well as the periods of emergence from the infested cut branches has been determined. It has been noted that both longevity and fecundity are influenced by the feeding conditions, reaching toca. double value when parasitoids were fully fed. Under standard rearing conditionsR. maculatus completes its life cycle in 17–18 days depending on sex, whereasP. scarabaeoides takes about 48 days. Finally 3 emergence periods has been observed from which the 1^st is the most important and the 3^rd is always the less significantly one, provided that the emerging brood cannot oviposits easier than the parents due to a decrease on host larvae proportion as well as on parasitoid fecundity.