The Effect of Adult Nutrition on Parasitization Performance of Trichogramma Evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract

Trichogramma spp. is the most important parasitoids in biological control as egg parasitoids. In this study the effect of adult nutrition on the parasitization rate, longevity and emergence rate of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were investigated. Honey, grape molasse and royal jelly as main food; with resin (derived from plants), acacia nectar, Paulownia nectar, red tulip nectar, yellow asphodel nectar, apple syrup, liquid of E. kuehniella egg and mashed E. kuehniella larvae used as food resources. Feeding on honey and acacia nectar (15.73 days), and honey (16.00 days) significantly increased longevity. The shortest longevity of T. evanescens was seen royal jelly+mashed +E. kuehniella larvae (2.06 days). T. evanescens, females that fed on honey (104.8 eggs) and honey+acacia nectar (96.53 eggs), parasitized significantly more hosts than females that fed on other floral nectars and artificial diets.