Effect of lethal dose of Abamectin®, Proteus® and Sirinol® on biological parameters of Habrobracon hebetor in laboratory conditions

The usage of biological control agents has a significant role in the IPM programs. Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hym., Braconidae ) is considered as one of  the most important larval parasitoid in many Lepidoptera pests. In this study, the effect of Abamectin®, Proteus® and Sirinol® on biological parameters of this parasitoid was investigated in direct (contact) and indirect (poisonous host) methods. The parasitoid was breeding on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.;Pyralidae) under controlled condition (25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 16L:8D photoperiod). Bioassay tests of insecticides were done by contact (direct) and poisonous host (indirect) and the demographic parameters of the wasp were calculated. Lethal concentration was obtained in contact method as 1.38, 0.037, 6.62 ppm and in poisonous host as 0.49, 2.15, 0.138 ppm, respectively. Intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) of the wasp treated with these pesticides were reduced in compare to control (0.220, 0.211, 0.227 and 0.261 female/female/day in direct and 0.212, 0.205, 0.186 and 0.260 in indirect method, respectively). In direct method, Abamectin and Sirinol had the least effect on rm compared the control. In poisonous host method Abamectin had also the least effect on this factor. Since, Abamectin had also the least effect on the longevity of this parasitoid, it can be recommended in IPM programs using the combination of parasitoid and the insecticide.