Study of some biological and host feeding characteristics of parasitoid wasp, Eretmocerus delhiensis on greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hem., Aleyrodidae) is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous insect that attack a wide range of crops. In this study, the biological parameters of parasitoid wasp, Eretmocerus delhiensis Mani (Hym., Aphelinidae) on T. vaporariorum were evaluated. The experiments were conducted at 25±1°C, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 h (L: D) in growth chamber. Based on the results of our studies, all of parasitoid progeny were female and there was no male progeny. Adult emergence, pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period, developmental time and longevity of female parasitoid were 71 %, 15.03±0.32, 0.46±0.06, 4.2±0.12, 1.04±0.08, and 5.71±0.13 and 20.74±0.5 days, respectively. Also, other parameters such as; daily fecundity, total fecundity, daily host feeding, and total host feeding were 3.04±0.11 and 17.43±0.17 eggs 1.07±0.05, and 6.40±0.35 nymphs, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that host feeding had a significant effect on oviposition of this parasitoid. Therefore, the parasitoid wasp E. delhiensis not only parasitize their hosts but also kill them through host feeding. These results suggest E. delhiensis has the potential to be used as a biological control agent in greenhouse whitefly management.