Biological characteristics of strains of Trichogramma pretiosum, reared on eggs of Tuta absolute, under different temeperatures

Abstract

The aim of this research was to obtain information about biological aspects of strains of T. pretiosum reared on eggs of T. absoluta and its potentiality to use in the control of this pest, in different temperatures. The tests were conducted at the CCA-UFES (Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of the Espirito Santo, Brazil) with 5 T. pretiosum strains which were colleted at different locations in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil : L – Alegre [200 m above sea level (asl)], L2 – Afonso Claudio ( 380 m asl), L4 – 050 m asl, L5 – 750 m asl, and L6 – Venda Nova do Imigrante ( 650 m asl ). The number of days with parasitism, the number of eggs having the parasite per female, and their longevity were evaluated. Excluding at location L, the highest number of eggs daily attacked by the parasite took place at 25 °C. The parasitism was concentrated in the first 2 to 3 days. No correlation was detected between parasitism capacity and temperature. Longevity was correlated with temperature. It was thus concluded that the best performance of the parasitoid took place at 25 °C.Additional keywords: Trichogrammatidae; parasitized eggs; tomato leafminer; biological control.