Effects of lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of Biscaya®, Neem azal® and Tondexir® on biological parameters of Habrobracon hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae) in laboratory condition

Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hym.: Braconidae) is one of the most important larval parasitoids that has been exposed to many pesticides. In this research, the biological effects of pesticides and herbal extracts on this wasp were investigated by contact and poisonous host methods. Bioassay tests of Biscaya®, Neem azal® and Tondexir® on this parasitoid wasp was determined in laboratory conditions (8:16 h L:D, 65% humidity and 25 ± 2°C) in 5 replicates and each replicate with 30 wasps at contact method. The LC50 of these treatments in contact method were 0.185, 1.16 and 122.070 mg/l, respectively, and in the poisonous host method on the laboratory larval host, Ephestia kuhniella Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae), were 5.388, 68.97 and 1.997 mg/l, respectively. The highest growth period after control (25.95 ± 0.79 days) was related to Tondexir® in contact method with lethal dose (22.52 ± 0.99 days). The highest longevity of female wasps was related to Tondexir® in the sub lethal dose by contact method (30.39 ± 0.27 days) and the highest longevity of male wasps were related to sub lethal dose of Neem azal® in contact method (20.85 ±0.31 days). The highest numbers of eggs belonged to lethal dose of Tondexir® in contact method (245.14 ± 4.18). The results of this study showed that the use of Tondexir® had the least effect on growth factors of this wasp.