Plant Protection (Scientific Journal of Agriculture)

Plant Protection (Scientific Journal of Agriculture)

The thermal requirements of the parasitoid wasp Telenomus busseolae (Hym.: Platygastridae), reared on Sesamia nonagrioides (Lep.: Noctuidae), under laboratory conditions

Document Type : Research paper-English

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 M.Sc. student, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The egg parasitoid wasp Telenomus busseolae Gahan (Hym.: Platygastridae) is the most important natural enemy of Sesamia spp. in sugarcane fields of Iran, playing a significant role in regulating host populations. Temperature is the most critical environmental factor affecting the growth and development of parasitoids, and it plays a vital role in their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to investigate the temperature-dependent development of T. busseolae on S. nonagrioides Lef. (Lep.: Noctuidae). Thermal requirements of T. busseolae were assessed at seven constant temperatures (15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 37 ºC), and developmental rates were modeled as a function of temperature using two linear and eight nonlinear models. The results showed a significant effect of temperature on the pre-adult developmental duration of male and female parasitoids. From 18 to 35°C, the total preimaginal period decreased from 45.12 to 11.8 days for males and from 46.07 to 12.12 days in females. The developmental time between male and female parasitoids was significantly different at all tested temperatures. The lower temperature threshold (T0) was determined to be 12.49°C for males and 12.47°C for females, with thermal constant (K) of 250.54 and 259.69 DD, respectively, using Ikemoto and Takai linear model. The Logan 6 model fitted the data well in both male and female parasitoids, and therefore it was recommended for describing the temperature-dependent development of this parasitoid. These findings can be useful for the mass rearing and application of T. busseolae in the biological control of sugarcane stem borers.
Keywords
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