The reproduction and population growth parameters of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hym.: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of Callosobruchus maculatus (Col.: Bruchidae)

The reproduction and population growth parameters of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) on the 4th instar larvae of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) were investigated at temperature of 25 ± 1C, 20 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) hours. Since the parasitoid eggs are laid inside the seeds where the host larvae live, egg hatch rate (hx) was assumed to be 1 (100%). As a result of this study, the gross and net fecundity and fertility rates were determined to be 306.51 and 236.25, respectively. The average number of eggs produced per female per day was obtained 11.48. The intrinsic and finite rates of increase on the 4th instar of C. maculatus were 0.163 and 1.18, respectively. The mean generation and doubling times were 35.30 and 4.24 days, correspondingly. The gross and net reproduction rates were 123.36 and 109.49 females/female/generation, respectively. The results of this study on the stable age distribution showed that 62.3 % and 37.7 % of the population belonged to immature stages and adults, respectively. The possible application of these results for biological control of C. maculatus is discussed.