Study on some biological parameters of Habrobracon hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae) on Ephestia kuehniella (Lep.: Pyralidae) in vitro

Habrobracon hebetor is one of the most important parasitoid of some agricultural pests such as cotton bollworm and corn stem borers and etc. This natural enemy is mass reared and released in many regions of Iran. Biological parameters of H. hebetor such as percent parasitism, reproduction, male percentage and adult's longevity were investigated in the third, fourth and fifth instar larvae of flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. The experiments were conducted at 26°C, 60±5% humidity and 16:8 light/dark ratio. Also percent parasitism, reproduction and The sex ratio of eight consecutive generations of H. hebetor were evaluated on fifth larval stage of E. kuehniella.The obtained results showed that the highest percentage of parasitism (99.3%), reproduction (63.80 wasps) and adult's longevity (19.40 days) were observed on fifth instar larvae of the flour moth. significant difference was obserred between male percentage of H. hebetor on the third, fourth and fifth instar larvae of flour moth. Also the results showed no significant difference between percentages of parasitism of H. hebetor in eight consecutive generations. The highest (63.95%) and lowest (28.60%) male percentage were observed in first and eighth generation of the parasitoid, respectively. The highest parasitism was observed in the first generation of H. hebetor.