BIOLOGY, BEHAVIOR AND LIFE TABLE STUDIES OF OOENCYRTUS KUVANAE HOWARD (HYMENOPTERA: ENCYRTIDAE), A GYPSY MOTH EGG PARASITOID (ENTOMOLOGY, LYMENTRIA DISPAR, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL)
Abstract
Three aspect of Ooencyrtus kuvanae biology and behavior were studied; (1) life tables, (2) mating behavior, and (3) oviposition with an artificial egg. (1) Life Tables. The life table studies were age-specific laboratory studies which used data on longevity (l(,x)), fecundity (m(,X)) and sex-ratios to determine parameters such as intrinsic rate of increase (r(,m)), mean generation time (T) and net reproductive rate (R(,o)). Fortran programs are included which compute statistics and print life tables. (2) Mating Behavior. It was found that, in addition to the premating behabior and copulation exhibited in many parasitic Hymenoptera, O. kuvanae also exhibits postmating behavior. These mating stages were described and illustrated. It was found, additionally, that if a female was allowed to copulate but not to engage in postmating behavior, she would mate again. Recently mated O. kuvanae females do not normally mate again. (3) Oviposition with an Artificial Egg. Attempts were made to induce O. kuvanae females to oviposit into artificial eggs similar to those used in artificial host oviposition studies to Trichogramma. Although no oviposition occurred, females did antennate, drill, insert their ovipositors, probe and host feed on the artificial eggs. Scanning electron micrographs of gypsy moth eggs, an O. kuvanae egg pedicel and the tip of a female's abdomen are included.
Subject Area
Entomology
Recommended Citation
ALZOFON, JULIA, "BIOLOGY, BEHAVIOR AND LIFE TABLE STUDIES OF OOENCYRTUS KUVANAE HOWARD (HYMENOPTERA: ENCYRTIDAE), A GYPSY MOTH EGG PARASITOID (ENTOMOLOGY, LYMENTRIA DISPAR, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL)" (1984). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8506314.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8506314
