LABORATORY STUDIES ON COCCOPHAGUS SCUTELLARIS (DALMAN) (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE), PARASITOID OF THE SOFT SCALE INSECT, PULVINARIA TENUIVALVATA (NEWSTEAD), A PEST OF SUGAR CANE IN EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The aphelinid Coccophagus scutellaris parasitizes the coccid Pulvi­natia tenuivalvata, one of the most serious pests of sugar cane. The dif­ferent stages of the parasitoid were described and illustrated .The mean incubation period of the parasitoid egg was 2.75 days. The mean dura­tions of the larval stages, prepupa and pupa were 16.19, 1.25 and 8.96 days, respectively. This aphelinid species is a primary endoparasitold and attacks the pest throughout its development. It is also shown that C.scuttelaris prefer the second and third nymphal instars to any of the other stages host. Female laid an average of 67 eggs and lived for an av­erage of 13.5 days.The females lived longer than males (7.3 days). The sex ratio of C. scutellaris receded 1:4.6 as males : females. One or more adult parasitoids developed successfully in one host. The maximum num­ber of adult parasitoids emerged from one individual host was ten, de­pending on stage of the host. Percentage of parasitism was 95% in 2nd instar nymph of P. tenulvalvata. It is concluded that C. scutellaris can be considered as a potential biological control agent for this insect.

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