Investigaton of fecundity and sex ratio in the parasitoid Bracon hebetor say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in relation to parasitoid age

Abstract

The effect of parasitoid age on fecundity and sex ratio in Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was examined at 26 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5% relative humidity. Galleria mellonella (L.) and Ephestia kuehniella (Zell.) were used as host species. It was found that the fecundity of the female parasitoid did not change significantly during the first 5 days of the female's lifespan but afterwards it decreased significantly. Under laboratory conditions, the offspring sex ratio was male biased on both host species. The fecundity of the female parasitoids reared on late stage larvae of G. mellonella was higher than that of those reared on E. kuehniella. © TÜBİTAK.