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Effects of temperature on the development and fecundity of Microplitis similis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Author(s) -
Yi SiJia,
Hopkins Richard J.,
Chen XuYang,
Chen ZhuangMei,
Wang Xing,
Huang GuoHua
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/phen.12321
Subject(s) - braconidae , spodoptera litura , biology , fecundity , parasitoid , noctuidae , lepidoptera genitalia , botany , hymenoptera , zoology , horticulture , population , demography , sociology
Microplitis similis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid of Spodoptera litura larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Here, the effects of constant temperature (18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 °C) on the development and fecundity of M. similis developing in S. litura were studied in the laboratory to clarify the range of its potential distribution and better understand its potential as a biological control agent. The developmental duration of M. similis varied from 10.6 (33 °C) to 27.9 days (18 °C). The developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulative temperature of M. similis were 9.96 °C and 231.14 Degree‐days, respectively. The average adult longevity of M. similis ranged from 5.1 (33 °C) to 26.8 days (18 °C). The maximum fecundity of the parasitoid was observed at 27 and 30 °C, which were 43.07 and 39.73 eggs, respectively. The minimum fecundity of the parasitoid was observed at 18 °C, which was 8.27 eggs. The intrinsic rate of increase ( r m ) and finite rate of increase ( λ ) of M. similis were the highest at 30 °C. The net reproduction rate ( R 0 ) was the highest at 27 °C and 30 °C, which were 44.34 and 40.39, respectively. We concluded that temperatures in the range 27–30 °C are the most suitable for development and reproduction of M. similis . Our study provides detailed basic information for development and reproduction of M. similis under different temperature conditions.