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Abstract

The study of biology of Trichograma pinoti Voegele and the effects of the type of host used for its rearing, can be important in the improvement of mass rearing techniques. In this research, developmental and ovipositional time, fertility, sex ratio and intrinsic rate of increase of wasps reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Sitotroga cerealella Olivier eggs were studied. Forty fertile female wasps were selected randomly from colonies reared on E. kuehniella (TPE) and S. cerealella (TPS). On a daily basis, 150 host fresh eggs were presented to each wasp. The eggs of previous day were taken and kept in the incubator. Experiments were conducted atT 25?1?C, RH 50?5% and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Preadult period for TPE and TPS was 12 and 11 days, respectively. The wasps lacked preovipositional period and could oviposite immediately after appearence. Reproductive period, post reproductive period, adult life span and total life span for TPE were 8.24, 2.09, 10.33, 22.33 and for TPS were 5.17, 1.77, 6.93 and 17.93 days, respectively. Total egg laid by TPE was greater than that by TPS. Percentage of egg hatching and female ratio were greater for TPS than those for TPE. Although percentage of egg hatching and female ratio were greater for TPS, the number of female progenies in TPE was greater than that of TPS, since TPE parasitized more eggs as compared to TPS. Intrinsic rate of increase of TPE and TPS wasps were 0.257 and 0.281, respectively. The comparison of total biological parameters showed that the match and fitness of T. pintoi on Ephestia kuehniella was greater.

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