Storage conditions for pupae of the parasitoid wasp Pseudapanteles dignus, a natural enemy of Phthorimaea absoluta
摘要
The larval endoparasitoid Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent against the South American tomato leafminer, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Effective breeding protocols and storage methods ensure the availability of high-quality organisms for commercialization and field release. To optimize mass rearing programs, we evaluated the effects of P. dignus pupae cold storage under different temperature conditions and time periods. Two conditions were tested: 10 °C for four weeks and 13 °C for three weeks. We assessed flight capacity, pupal development time, adult emergence percentage, sex ratio of emerging adults, female survival rate over seven days, parasitism percentages using P. absoluta larvae, and sex ratio of the F1 generation. Morphometric traits of emerging females were also examined. Results indicated that emergence exceeded 60% under both conditions, with no impact on flight capacity or sex ratio. However, storage at 10 °C for four weeks significantly delayed pupal development and reduced parasitism percentages, with a male-biased progeny. Morphological analysis showed slight changes in wing size but no significant abnormalities. We conclude that short-term storage at 13 °C for three weeks is suitable for P. dignus rearing programs to support augmentative releases.