EFFECTS OF HOST AGE, FEMALE PARASITOID AGE, AND HOST PLANT ON PARASITISM OF CERATOGRAMMA ETIENNEI (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE)

Parasitism of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) eggs by Ceratogramma etiennei Delvare as influenced by host age, age of the female parasitoid, and host plant preference was evaluated under laboratory or greenhouse tests. Percent parasitism of D. abbreviatus eggs by C. etiennei decreased as eggs matured. The optimal age of C. etiennei for successful parasitism ranged from 1-2-d old. Host plant leaf thickness, leaf pubescence, and plant strata probably played a role on the parasitism by C. etiennei. This parasitoid is diurnal and spent approximately 5 min searching for eggs laid in cryptic locations, 46 min parasitizing an egg mass and 24 min resting. This biological information is relevant in evaluating the potential of C. etiennei in the classical biological control of D. abbreviatus.