The effect of different cold storage duration of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on its some reproductive parameters and functional response on flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

Habrobracon hebetor Say is one of the most important ectoparasitoids of the larval stage of many lepidopterous pests. In this study, the effect of different cold storage duration (at 4±1°C) including 0 (Control), 10, 20 and 30 day were evaluated on fecundity, percentage of egg hatch as well as age-specific functional response of H. hebetor to last instar of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) for 10 day. Different densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 of the host were offered separately to the parasitoidsat 27±1 °C, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h. The numbers of paralyzed larvae, produced and hatched eggs in each host density and treatment were recorded daily. The results revealed a type II functional response for all treatments. The highest and lowest values of attack rates were estimated in 10th day of control treatment (0.0816±0.0129 h-1) and 6th day of 30 day storage treatment (0.0474±0.0083 h-1), respectively. The highest and lowest handling time was observed in eighth day of 30 day storage treatment (1.5849±0.1217 h) and in first day of control treatment (0.3155±0.0176 h), respectively. The lowest values of fecundity and egg hatch of the parasitoid as well as percentage of paralyzed host larvae were obtained in 30 day storage treatment.