Impact of maternal crowd on the reproductive performance of an ecto-pupal parasitoid Nesolynx thymus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Nesolynx thymus Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is one among 20 hymenopteran parasitoids reported to attack the uzi fly, Exorista bombycis, which in turn infests the silkworm, Bombyx mori accounting a cocoon yield loss of 10-20%. A host of factors viz., age and size of host, age and size of parasitoid, availability of host, temperature and quality of host are reported to influence the reproductive efficiency of the parasitoids. In the present study an attempt was made to record the influence of foraging parasitoid density on their reproductive performance. Three day-old uzi pupae were offered to varying numbers (1 - 10) of 2 day old Nesolynx thymus adults for parasitization. The progeny production per pupa (84.44 - 132.77) increased significantly with increase in the number of foraging parasitoid adults (1 - 10) however, progeny production per female decreased. The sex ratio (M : F) (1:25.49 - 1:1.53) decreased significantly with increase in foraging parasitoid adults. The morphometric parameters except female abdomen width of first generation parasitoid showed significant negative correlation with number of foraging adults. However, correlation between the parasitoid size in first generation and their reproductive performance was nonsignificant.