Thermal requirements of Trichogramma pretiosum and T. acacioi (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae), parasitoids of the avocado defoliator Nipteria panacea (Lep.: Geometridae), in eggs of two alternative hosts

Abstract

This research studied the thermal requirements of Trichogramma pretiosum and T. acacioi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), parasitoids of Nipteria panacea (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), with eggs of the alternative hosts Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) aiming to use these natural enemies in biological control programs of this pest in avocado orchards. T. pretiosum needed 151.83 and 160.04 degree-days, above threshold of 10.70 and 10.75°C, while these values were 158.50 and 155.46 degree-days, above threshold of 10.67 and 10.46°C for T. acacioi when exposed to eggs of A. kuehniella and S. cerealella, respectively.