Biology of Cotesia dictyoplocae Watanabe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a parasitoid of Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

Cotesia dictyoplocae Watanabe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an endoparasitoid of certain lepidopteran caterpillar. In the present study the endoparasitoid was recorded to parasitize on one of the economically important lepidopteran caterpillar i.e. the caterpillar of muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).The parasitoid causes considerable damage of muga silkworm crop in Assam. Eggs of the endoparasitoid were observed to deposit inside the body of early instar silkworm caterpillar. Mean incubation period of egg of C. dictyoplocae was recorded as 1.17±0.03 days. The larvae after hatching passed their three larval stages within the host caterpillar. Mean larval period, pupal period and adult period of the braconid wasp was recorded as 12.24±0.25 days, 6.14±0.26 days and 8.46±0.22days respectively. Mean developmental time from egg to adult was recorded as 28.06±0.51 days at mean temperature of 22.12±0.25 °C and mean relative humidity of 67.27±0.34%. The sex ratio of male and female was 1:1.4.