Development of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson, 1880) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on different hosts and temperatures

In this study, the development time, mortality, parasitization rate and sex ratio of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson, 1880) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854, Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763 and Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were determined. The experiments were carried out at three different, temperatures (17, 22 and 27 +/- 1 degrees C) for each aphid species, 60 +/- 10% RH and 16: 8 h L:D photoperiod. The development thresholds and thermal constants for the parasitoid were also determined for the three aphid species. The parasitization rate of L. testaceipes was 25.0, 53.4 and 20.5% (for 17, 22 and 27 degrees C, respectively) for A. craccivora; 62.7, 71.1 and 37.1% for A. fabae; and 54.2, 70.7 and 20.0% for A. gossypii. The development time of L. testaceipes was 18.5, 10.9 and 7.9 d in A. craccivora, 17.6, 10.2 and 7.4 d in A. fabae, and 19.8, 12.6 and 9.3 d in A. gossypii at 17, 22 and 27 +/- 1 degrees C. The development thresholds and thermal constants for L. testaceipes in A. craccivora, A. fabae and A. gossypii were 9.42, 9.69 and 8.12 degrees C, and 136.99, 128.05 and 175.44 degree days, respectively. Based on the overall results, A. fabae is an excellent potential host for the mass rearing of L. testaceipes at 20-22 degrees C.