Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 1999, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 166-171.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Bionomics of Metaphycus ericeri Xu et Jiang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Jiao Yi,Zhao Ping   

  • Online:1999-05-20 Published:1999-05-20

Abstract: Metaphycus ericeri Xu et Jiang is an important parasitic wasp of female white wax insect, Ericerus pela Chavannes. The parasitic wasp has 5 generations per year in Kunming and overwinters as 3rd, 4th, 5th instar larvae and pupae in host body. The thermal threshold and thermal sum for the development are 11.45℃and 552.93 daydegrees respectively. The mean generation times at 18℃, 21℃, 24℃, 27℃ and 30℃ are 66.87d,47.27d,35.56d,30.84d and 27.81d respectively. The adults sucked honey dew and the host body fluid for its complementary nutrition. The sex ratio is 1.75~2.88:1 (mean 2.25:1). The pre-oviposition period is 2~3 days. At 18℃,21℃,24℃,27℃ and 30℃, the number of eggs produced per female is 4.37,13.29,18.16,19.31 and 15.14,and percentage of eggs produced is 1856%,64.14%,83.49%,89.81% and 75.81%respectively. The female wasp doesn't oviposit at 15℃. The adult longevity is influenced by food, sex and oviposition. The larvae undergo 5 instars. The 1st~4th instar larvae live on the host body fluid and tissue. The 5th instar larvae stop feeding, excrete and pupate in the host body.