Review of the Biology of Melittobia acasta (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Additions on Development and Sex Ratio of the Species

Abstract

A list of known hosts of Melittobia acasta and different biological aspects presented in previous literature are summarized and clarified. Development, sex ratio, and offspring production, on wild, facultative, and factitious hosts, and size of stages at different temperatures are shown. In general, devel- opment time is equivalent and similar to that of other Melittobia species; however, as temperature rises development time decreases. Sex ratio oscillates between 96 to 98% female depending on the host, falling into the expected percentage for most species in the genus. Total offspring numbers were similar to those produced by other Melittobia species using the same hosts.