The reproductive capability of <i><scp>O</scp>oencyrtus kuvanae</i> reared on eggs of the factitious host <i><scp>A</scp>ntheraea pernyi</i>

Abstract

Abstract O oencyrtus kuvanae is a key egg parasitoid of L ymantria dispar (L.), an important defoliating pest in C hina and N orth A merica. We have developed mass rearing techniques for O . kuvanae and in this study compared the reproductive capacity of O . kuvanae when it was previously reared on the natural host, L . dispar or the factitious host, A ntheraea pernyi G uerin‐ M eneville. There was no significant difference in the oviposition period or total number of eggs laid between L . dispar ‐reared and A . pernyi ‐reared females. However, the mean number of offspring successfully emerging from those eggs was significantly larger from the A . pernyi ‐reared females compared with L . dispar ‐reared females. From this, we can conclude that, with respect to reproductive capability, eggs of A . pernyi are suitable factitious hosts for mass rearing of O . kuvanae .