|Sourakov, Andrei - ENT DEPT, UNIV OF FLORIDA|
Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: July 23, 2001
Publication Date: August 1, 2002
Interpretive Summary: Not applicable.
Technical Abstract: Diadegma insulare (Cresson) is an important parasitoid of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L). It is not yet available commercially to growers, because its production is labor intensive and therefore expensive, though recent development of a diet-based rearing technique (Mitchell et al., unpublished) should make rearing more economical. For augmentative releases, it is obviously advantageous to produce as many parasitoids as possible in relation to the number of available hosts with the highest possible female to male ratio. The sex ratio of laboratory-produced D. insulare varies greatly depending on a multitude of factors. The objective of this study was to determine how increasing the number of days during which females are allowed to oviposit would affect the numbers and the sex ratio of the resulting progeny.