Effect of Different Hosts on the Biology of Trybliographa Daci (Hymenoptera brachonidae) Under Lab Conditions

Abstract

The present studies on the effect of different hosts on the biology of Aganaspis daci previously known as Trybliographa daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Brachonidae now known as Eucoilidae) were carried out in the fruitfly and their parasitoids lab, Plant Protection Division, Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam. Four different kinds of hosts namely, Bactrocera zonata, Bactrocera dorsalis, and Bactrocera cucurbitae and Carpomya vesuviana were used in the experiment. Data on number of un-emerged, parasitized pupae, sex ratio and longevity of the parasitoid were recorded.The different parameters of T. daci were significant (P<0.05) affected by the provision of different hosts. However, maximum mean parasitization was recorded when T. daci were offered with the larvae of B. zonata (11.40±0.96) and minimum in C. vesuviana (4.60±0.96). Moreover, maximum mean emergence was observed when T. daci were offered with the larvae of B. zonata (8.90±0.87) and minimum in C.vesuviana (3.30±0.94). Moreover, maximum male emergence were recorded when T. daci were offered with the larvae of B. zonata (3.70±0.50) and lowest in C. vesuviana (1.00±0.21). Similarly maximum mean female emergence was recorded, when adults T. daci were offered with larvae of B. zonata (5.20±1.45) and maximum in larvae of C. vesuviana (2.00±0.87). Our results established that B. zonata is preferred host of T. daci in term of preference, parasitization, emergence and longevity. These results could be exploited for the mass rearing and management of B. zonata in variety of orchard agro-ecosystem.

Keywords: Trybliographa Daci, Hosts, fruit flies and parasitization potential