A Study on the Biological and Behavioural Parameters of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hym.: Pteromalidae), a Parasitoid of Callosobruchus maculatus (Col.: Bruchidae) on Chickpea

The biological and behavioural parameters of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hym.: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of Callosobruchus maculatus (Col.: Bruchidae) on Chickpea were studied in laboratory conditions at temperature of 25±1ºC, photoperiod 16:8 (L:D) and 20±5 % RH. The pre-adult period of the wasp was 19.82 ± 0.038 days and pre-ovipositional period in this wasp was so short that female laid eggs immediately after emergence. Reproductive and post reproductive periods were 25.12 ± 1.98 and 1.75 ± 0.28 days, respectively. Adult life span was 26.69 ± 1.98 days. Total number of progeny produced by a female was 240 ± 28.51. The sex ratio (% females) of the resulting adults on hosts was 0.49. The functional response of A. calandrae was type II. The host stage preference by the parasitoid was investigated in two methods, choice and non-choice experiments. In the first condition, the parasitoid preferred the 4th larval instar to others, but in the second, it preferred both 4th larval instar and pupae. Adult longevity for both female and male parasitoids provided with honey solution (% 50), host larvae, host larvae and honey solution (%50), and finally without host larvae and honey solution was 49.00 ± 4.32 , 26.69 ± 1.98, 38.90 ± 3.52 and 5.66 ± 0.37 days for females and 10.64 ± 1.5, 6.85 ± 0.34, 8.41 ± 0.52 and 5.59 ± 0.28 days for males, respectively.