Development, fecundity, and longevity of the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were studied on the factitious host, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). | Research Article Turk J Agric For 34 (2010) 421-428 © TÜBİTAK doi: Temperature dependent development of the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus oculator on the factitious host, Ephestia cautella Hilal TUNCA*, Cem ÖZKAN, Neşet KILINÇER Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture Department of Plant Protection, 06610 Dışkapı, Ankara - TURKEY Received: Abstract: Development, fecundity, and longevity of the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were studied on the factitious host, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at 4 different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). Developmental time from egg to adult was inversely related to temperature. Egg to adult development time ranged from 188 days at 15 °C to 28 days at 30 °C. Complete development required 489 degree-days with a developmental threshold of °C. Adult male and female longevity ranged from 43 days at 20 °C to 17 days at 30 °C. Maximum production of offspring per female (2626 ± 152) was obtained at 25 °C. Sex ratios were female-biased at 15 °C (♂:1♀), but were increasingly male-biased at higher temperatures to a maximum of ♂:1♀ at 30 °C. The highest net reproductive rate was at 25 °C, whereas the highest intrinsic rate of increase and the shortest doubling time occurred at 30 °C. Key words: Chelonus oculator, development, egg-larval parasitoid, Ephestia cautella, temperature Yumurta-larva parazitoiti Chelonus oculator’un laboratuvar konukçusu Ephestia cautella üzerinde sıcaklığa bağlı gelişimi Özet: Bu çalışmada yumurta-larva parazitoiti Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)’un laboratuvar üretim konukçusu Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) üzerinde 4 farklı sıcaklıkta (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C ve 30 °C) gelişme süresi, meydana gelen birey sayısı ve ömür uzunluğu belirlenmiştir. Parazitoitin yumurtadan ergine kadar gelişme süresi sıcaklık artışı ile ters bir orantı göstermiş; 15 .
