Biological characteristics of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on refrigerated pupae of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Mass rearing of parasitoids is a fundamental step for biological control programs. The biological characteristics of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were evaluated in pupae of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) stored at low temperatures. Twenty four hours-old pupae of A. gemmatalis were stored at 12 °C for 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 d and then exposed to parasitism by P. elaeisis females. The life span of P. elaeisis was affected and ranged from 19 to 24 d on the pupae of the host. Parasitism reached 100% of the host pupae after storage in all periods at 12 °C, and adults emerged from 20.00 to 54.54% of them. The progeny of P. elaeisis ranged from 71 to 198 and had an inverse relationship with the increase in the storage period. Pupae of A. gemmatalis may be stored for up to 6 d at 12 °C and subsequently used in rearing of P. elaeisis