The effects of different temperatures and diet on the longevity of Bracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

The effects of constant and varying temperatures from 18 degrees C to 35 degrees C and diet on longevity of Bracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were investigated Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera. Pyralidae) larvae were used as host. Adults were provided with one of the three food types host larvae, honey solution (50%) or host larvae+honey solution Temperature had a significant effect on the longevity of female and male parasitoids The longest longevity of both sexes occured when adults reared at 18 degrees C. Increasing the temperature from 18 degrees C to 35 degrees C decreased the longevity Adults reared at fluctuating temperatures lived considerably shorter than those reared at 18 degrees C and 25 degrees C, but longer than at 35 degrees C Longevity also was significantly affected by diet in both sex of parasitoid Honey feeding to adult parasitoids increased their longevity. They lived the longest at 18 degrees C and the shortest at 35 degrees C Females fed with all food types in different temperatures lived longer than males.