Cold storage of adult parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the flour moth larvae, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) at 12°C

Storage at low temperature (cold storage) is an appropriate way to extend longevity of natural enemies such as insect parasitoids. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal time of storage of the parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor (Say) and its factitious host, the flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) at 12 °C. After in vitro rearing of the above insects, the adult female wasp of H. hebetor and also the larvae of host, A. kuehniella were stored in five replicates for one to six weeks at 12°C. After this, effects of storage time on some biological traits such as survival, fecundity and efficiency were evaluated weekly. The results showed that at 12°C, the adult parasitoid wasps could be stored for four weeks. Also at the same temperature, A. kuehniella larvae could be stored for three weeks, but for the parasitoid, they can be stored for four weeks. Thus, short-term storage of H. hebetor adult wasps could be used to hold and store a large number of mass reared parasitoids.