BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON Eretmocerus mundus (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE), A PARASITOID OF Bemr’sia argenti‘folii (HEMIPTERA: ALYRODIDAE), AND ITS ROLE IN PEST POPULATION REGULATION ON TOMATOES.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Economic Entomology Department; Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University; Mansoura-35516: Egypt.

Abstract

The Aphelinid parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus Mercet is considered the most
effective parasitoid against Bemr'sia argentr'folii Bellows & Perring. a serious pest in
greenhouses and outdoor crops, in Egypt. Studies were carried out to determine
some biological characters of Er. mundus under two temperature regimes 25 and 30
°C and ?5% RH. The life cycle of the parasitoid shortened at 30 °C (22.31189 days).
become longer (218152 days) at 25 °C. Also, the female longevity lasted 9.21-2.45
and 12.55134 days at 30 °C and 25 °C. respectively. At 30 °C. female progeny was
58514.88 progeny, while it was 44.89i1.32 at 25 °C. In addition. the statistical
analyses revealed that the parasiloid life cycle. female longevity and progeny rats
were varied significantly according to the temperature regime used.
Constant number of Er. mundus was released against various numbers of its
host. Higher parasitism percentage (87.5%) was recorded with the ratio of 1
parasiloid: 5 B. argentr'folr'i nymphs. The parasitism percentages decreased when
host numbers increased. When parasitoids released at ratios of 1: 10. 1: 15 and 1: 20,
the parasitism percentages decreased to 65.96%. 55.5 and 40.4%. respectively. This
means that increasing host numbers from 5 to 20 B. argentifolr'r‘ nymphs. nymphal
mortality decreased 6.5 times in comparison with 1: 5 ratio.

Keywords

Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology
Volume 30, Issue 4
April 2005
Pages 2201-2215

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