Influence of maternal age and host deprivation on egg production and parasitization byMicroplitis croceipes [Hym.: Braconidae]

The effect of maternal age and hostHeliothis virescens (F.) deprivation on egg production and allocation byMicroplitis croceipes (Cresson) was determined in the laboratory on 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, and 12.0 days old parasitoids. In host-deprived parasitoids, newly-emerged (0.5-day old) females produced significantly fewer eggs than older ones; egg production peaked 3 to 6 days after emergence and declined thereafter. However, the number of eggs found in undeprived parasitoids at various ages suggested a cyclical pattern of egg production. The rate of parasitization by host-deprivedM. croceipes was higher in 1.0 to 6.0 days old than in newly-emerged or older females and was correlated strongly with egg production (r=0.93). The first observation on premature larval hatching inM. croceipes was documented.