Do lepidopteran hosts differentially affect the development and demography of Bracon hebetor Say

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the suitability of various hosts on the development and demography of Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The present findings showed that the development of B. hebetor’s immature was significantly prolonged on S. littoralis and S. litura compared to other insect hosts tested. Female of B. hebetor took longer time (23 and 22 days) to lay eggs on C. cephalonica and G. mellonella than other hosts tested. Longevity of male and female was significantly prolonged on C. cephalonica (15.39 and 28.63 days) and G. mellonella (14.21 and 26.57 days) compared to others insect hosts tested. Population growth parameters like Ro, rm, Tc, and τ was considerably highest on C. cephalonica (250.25, 0.3176, 19.30 and 17.39) and lowest on S. littoralis (5.33, 0.1019, 16.49 and 16.43). Based on demographic studies C. cephalonica and G. mellonella were proved to be suitable host for the mass rearing of B. hebetor.