SUBSTRATE AND FOOD EFFECTS ON BIOTIC POTENTIALITIES OF ENCARSIA-FORMOSA (HYM, APHELINIDAE)

With the aim of improving the dispatches of Encarsia formosa to the ag riculturist's greenhouses increasing wasp efficiency, a new method of conditioning by changing the substrate of black pupae was performed. T hree groups of parasites to which pupae were glued with or without sug ar and compared to a control were studied. This new method of conditio ning (pupae were removed from the host-plant then glued on a cardboard plaquette) did not disturb the wasp's biological potentialities (dail y fecundity, longevity) and adding sugar increased the daily fecundity .