ARS | Publication request: EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON LIFE HISTORY OF QUADRASTICHUS HAITIENSIS (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE), AN ENDOPARASITOID OF DIAPREPES ABBREVIATUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Submitted to: Biocontrol
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 21, 2005
Publication Date: December 13, 2005
Citation: Castillo, J., Jacas, J.A., Pena, J., Ulmer, B., Hall, D.G. 2005. Effect of temperature on life history of Quadrastichus haitiensis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an endoparasitoid of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Biological Control. 36:189-196.

Interpretive Summary: The biology of a natural enemy of the Diaprepes root weevil was investigated. Diaprepes is an important invasive pest of citrus and many other plants. Development of the natural enemy (an imported insect parasite) from egg to adult lasted 40, 21, 13 and 14 days at 20, 25°, 30° and 33°C. No development was observed between 5 ' 15°C. The greatest number of eggs (73-70 eggs per female) was obtained at 25° and 30°C while only 22 eggs per female was obtained at 33°C. A brief description of the parasitoid egg, larva, prepupa and pupa is provided in the paper. The information is valuable with respect to efforts to establish the parasitoid in Florida to boost biological control of the weevil.

Technical Abstract: The biology of the endoparasitoid Quadrastichus haitiensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was investigated in the laboratory on eggs of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Development from egg to adult lasted 21.07 ± 0.27 d, 12.70 ± 0.07 d and 13.57 ± 0.07 d at 25°, 30° and 33°C compared with slower development at 20° C ( 39.99 ± 0.27 d). No development was observed between 5 ' 15°C. Highest fecundity (73-70 eggs per female) was obtained at 25° and 30°C compared to 33°C (21.5 eggs per female). A brief description of the parasitoid egg, larva, prepupa and pupa is provided.