SURVEY OF CERTAIN INSECTS INFESTING MAIZE CROP AND BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE PARASITOID, BRACON BREVICORNIS WESM. (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) REARED ON SESAMIA CRETICA LED. UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Dokki , Giza , Egypt.

Abstract

The present study was conducted during two successive seasons in the period from 2011 to 2012 to survey some aphids species Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch)., Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus)., Aphis gossypii (Glover). ,  leafhoppers species Empoasca decipiens (Paoli), Empoasca decedens (Paoli) , Cicadulina chinai (Ghaui) , Balclutha hortensis (Lindb) and Cicadulina bipunctella zeae (China), planthoppers species namely Sogatelle vibix (Haupt) and S. furcifera (Horv.) and two stem borersSesamia cretica Led, Ostrinia   nubilalis Hun infesting maize plants and  their associated predators.The ecto-larval parasitoid species, Bracon brevicornis Wesm . was reared in the laboratory on full grown larval of   the corn borer, S. cretica Led. Some biological aspects of parasitoid were studied.  Total developmental period of immature stages (egg – adult) lasted 16.05 days. Average number of deposited eggs / female was 209.08 eggs.   Mean number of eggs deposited per host larva was 8.19 eggs.  Sex ratio (male: female) was 1 : 0.54 when the parasitoid was reared on S. cretica grown larvae . The results indicated that increase of the parasitoid density, increased the number of host larva parasitized, fecundity and total progeny, while the sex ratio (female %) was decreased. Adult longevity was affected by temperature and food supplied. Four predators were associated with these insects on maize. These predators were Coccinella  undecimpunctata , Metasyrphus Corollae  ,  Chrysoperala carnea  and true spiders 

Keywords

Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology
Volume 3, Issue 10
October 2012
Pages 1023-1032

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