INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND AGE OF NEZARA-VIRIDULA L EGGS ON THE SCELIONID EGG PARASITOID, TRISSOLCUS-MEGALLOCEPHALUS (ASHM) (HYM, SCELIONIDAE)

Laboratory experiments were carried out to study the influence of temp erature and age of Nezara viridula eggs on the rate of parasitism by T rissolcus megallocephalus, the rate of emerged parasitoids, the durati on of developmental stages, the adult longevity and the daily rate of oviposition. The results indicated that the highest rate of parasitism 55.4 +/- 2.37/female (92.33%) and the highest number of emerged paras itoids 55.10 +/- 2.60 individuals/female (91.83 %) were obtained when the females were reared at a constant temperature of 25 degrees C. At 30 degrees C, egg-larval stage, pupal stage and total developmental st ages showed the shortest developmental time. Results showed also a neg ative response between adult parasitoids longevity and temperature. Fe males deposited the highest number of eggs during the first day at the highest temperature of 30 degrees C, while the females which were rea red at 25 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 21-36 degrees C fluctuating temp erature deposited the highest number of eggs during the second day. Th e results also indicated that the parasitoid females attacked host egg s at all developmental stages before hatching. The rate of parasitism and the number of emerged parasitoids were relatively high except for host eggs more than 3 days old. The shortest duration of developmental stages (14.2 +/- 2.86 days) were obtained at host eggs of two days ol d, and increased to (17.8 +/- 2.39 days) at 5 days old with a signific ant difference (P < 0.05). No significant differences were obtained be tween the adult longevity and the different ages of host eggs.