IN-VITRO REARING OF OOENCYRTUS-PITYOCAMPAE [HYM, ENCYRTIDAE], AN EGG PARASITOID OF THAUMETOPOEA-PITYOCAMPA [LEP, THAUMETOPOEIDAE]

Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet) is a polyphagous egg parasitoid, known mainly as an egg parasitoid of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar, Th aumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermuller), a pest of pines in Sou thern Europe and in the Mediterranean region. Rearing on artificial me dium was recently undertaken, and after a large screening of both mate rials and techniques available for this aim, a PVC film and a medium d evoid of insect material were found as suitable for the complete devel opment of 0. pityocampae. The artificial eggs allowed the parasitoid t o oviposit and to develop up to the adult stage. Five adults (2 males and 3 females) were obtained. Development was slower than that observe d in natural hosts. Two out of three females laid viable eggs in both natural and artificial eggs.