Original paper
Biology of Pediobius foveolatus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasite of Predatory Ladybeetles in India
[Biology of Pediobius foveolatus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasite of Predatory Ladybeetles in India]
Bhatkar, Awinash P.; Subba Rao, B. R.
Entomologica Germanica Band 3 Heft 3 (1976), p. 242 - 247
5 references
published: Dec 29, 1976
DOI: 10.1127/entom.germ/3/1976/242
ArtNo. ESP346000303006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Pediobius foveolatus (Crawford 1912) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reared from two economically important Coccinellidae species, Menochilus sexmaculata (Fabricius 1781) and Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus 1758, in North India. P. foveolatus was earlier described from the epilachna beetle Henosepilachna sparsa (Herbst 1786). Reared parasites were exposed to different stages of host larvae. It was found to be a gregarious endoparasite of third and fourth instar larvae of both of the predatory species. The percentage of field parasitism reached over 55 % from June 1964 to October 1965. The egg stage lasted 24 to 30 h; the larval stage 8 to 10 d; the pupal stage 4 to 8 d; and the prepupal stage 2 d. Species of the Pediobius foveolatus-complex should not be used for biological control, as they are primary, secondary and tertiary in their parasitic habit.