Temperature and Exposure Time in Cold Storage Reshape Parasitic Performance of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Cold storage can extend shelf life of parasitoids for use in biocontrol. However, cold storage may have negative impacts on life history traits of the parasitoids and, therefore, on their performance as biocontrol agents. Here, we examine the effect of cold storage on life history traits of Habrobra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic entomology 2018-04, Vol.111 (2), p.564-569
Main Authors: Seyahooei, Majeed Askari, Mohammadi-Rad, Akhtar, Hesami, Shahram, Bagheri, Abdoolnabi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adult longevity
Biological and Microbial Control
Biological control
Braconidae
Cold storage
Exposure
Fecundity
H. hebetor
Habrobracon hebetor
Hymenoptera
Life history
Longevity
Parasitism
Parasitoids
Pest control
Pests
Sex ratio
Shelf life
Temperature
Temperature effects
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Summary:Cold storage can extend shelf life of parasitoids for use in biocontrol. However, cold storage may have negative impacts on life history traits of the parasitoids and, therefore, on their performance as biocontrol agents. Here, we examine the effect of cold storage on life history traits of Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of several economic lepidopteran pests. Newly emerged wasps were stored at three constant temperatures (3°C, 5°C, 7°C) for up to 4 wk. Both temperature and exposure time significantly affected longevity, parasitism, fecundity, and sex ratio. Significant reduction in longevity was observed at 3°C and 7°C, whereas longevity of wasps stored at 5°C remained stable up to the second week and then gradually decreased in Weeks 3 and 4. Parasitism rate also significantly decreased after cold storage at 3°C, 5°C, and 7°C (ranked from high to low). Fecundity decreased at T 3°C and T 5°C but this trait was not affected by storage at T 7°C. A significant shift in male production was observed at T 5°C in Week 3, but in Week 4, the only treatment with male biased reproduction was T 3°C.These results show that the effect of temperature and exposure time in cold storage is trait dependent. Overall, storage at 5°C for a period of 3 wk least impacted most life-history traits of H. hebetor wasps.
ISSN:0022-0493
1938-291X
DOI:10.1093/jee/toy004