A rearing method of the larval parasitoid, Apanteles carpatus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on its new host Monopis crocicapitella (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

Host suitability of Monopis crocicapitella (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) was tested for a larval parasitoid, Apantales carpatus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) under laboratory conditions. Laboratory studies indicated that larvae of M. crocicapitella were successfully parasitized by A. carpatus and fertile offsprings of A. carpatus were produced. Some biological characteristics and a possible rearing method of this parasitoid on the laboratory host were also studied. All experiments were conducted at 25 ± 1°C, 60 to 70% relative humidity, with a photoperiod of 16:8h (L:D). Average development time, longevity and adult emergence rate of the parasitoid was 33.8 ± 0.277 days, 15.8 ± 0.787 days and 62% on the new host, respectively. A. carpatus was able to parasitize young and older stages of M. crocicapitella larvae and completed its development successfully. A possible rearing method of A. carpatus on M. crocicapitella showed that this parasitoid was successfully reared for eleven generations. These results show that the parasitoid can be a candidate for future research as a biological control agent against an important pest, M. crocicapitella, and the pest may be a suitable laboratory host for rearing of A. carpatus. Key words: Apantales carpatus, Monopis crocicapitella, parasitoid rearing method, host suitability, parasitoid biology.