Effect of Age, Size, and mating Combinations in Trichomalopsis Uziae, A Pteromalid Ecto-Pupal Parasitoid of the Tachinid Fly, Exorista Bombycis, on its Reproductive Performance
Preliminary laboratory studies have indicated that the pteromalid ecto-pupal parasitoid, Trichomalopsis uziae Sureshan & Narendra Kumar, has been reported to possess immense potential to serve as a biological control agent of the tachinid fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis), which inflicts a cocoon yield reduction of 10-20% in the southern states of India. The present laboratory investigations aims at generating information on the impact of age (0-10 days at 1 day apart in age) and size (big and small) of the parasitoid in addition to mating combinations (sib, conspecific, and random) on its reproductive performance when the pupae of E. bombycis were parasitized. The results revealed that age of T. uziae had an influence on rate of parasitism, brood allocation, progeny production, and sex ratio that decreased significantly with the parasitoid age. With regard to parasitoid size, big females showed significantly superior reproductive efficiency when compared with their small counterparts. In size-related mating combinations, all the reproductive parameters were significantly higher with big females irrespective of size of males they mated with. Among sib, conspecific, and random mating combinations, the latter led to substantially superior reproductive performance. The findings of the investigation have been discussed to explore the possibilities of undertaking mass production of T. uziae on E. bombycis.
