Abstract

ESPINO-HERRERA, Alma M. et al. Biological parameters of Apanteles nr. aristoteliae (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoid of the leafroller, Amorbia sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.3, pp.629-640. ISSN 2448-8445.

Apanteles nr. Aristoteliae (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an endoparasitoid of the leafroller Amorbia sp. (Lepdidoptera: Tortricidae) larvae. In this study, the life cycle, parasitism, sex ratio, and longevity of adults of this parasitoid were determined under laboratory conditions (22 ± 2 ºC, 60 ± 5% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 16:8h [light:dark]). The life cycle of this parasitoid was 42.45 ± 0.76 days. The duration of development stages of egg-larva, pupa and adult was 14.04 ± 0.05, 9.22 ± 0.07, and 19.36 ± 0.74 days, respectively. Each A. nr. aristoteliae female parasitized 73.33 ± 7.55 Amorbia sp. larvae. The sex ratio of F1 generation was 95.1% males (n = 912). Longevity of adults was significantly different (U = 564, P = 0.01) between mated males (27 ± 2.55 days) and virgins (19.75 ± 0.70 days) but not (U = 182, P = 0.3) between mated females that were exposed to parasitization during all its life (26.4 ± 2.88 days), and virgins (23.13 ± 1.4 days). In order to obtain a better understanding about life parameters of A. nr. aristoteliae, future studies that include different rearing conditions (e.g., temperature and space) are needed.

Keywords : Life cycle; sex ratio; parasitism; Rubus sp.