Effects of release ratio and host plants on parasitism by Pediobius foveolatus

The effects of parasite: host release ratio and host plant on rates of parasitism by Pediobius foveolatus Crawford were examined. The parasitism rate was found to have increase with increasing release ratio 10 days after the release. When the release ratio was 1∶1,the parasitism rate was 97. 63%,much higher than the rates achieved from release ratios of 1∶3 and 1∶5,which were 62. 58% and 56. 11%,respectively. Also,different host plants,plant cultivars and leaf structures also affected rates of parasitism by P. foveolatus. P. foveolatus parasitism was higher on eggplant than on tomato after releasing different ratios of P. foveolatus to Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata larvae. This suggests that eggplant is a suitable host plant providing more prey suitable for wasp oviposition,and that parasitism by P. foveolatus is lower on plants with more leaf trichomes than on those with fewer leaf trichomes.