LIFE-HISTORIES OF PSYLLAEPHAGUS-YASEENI (HYM, ENCYRTIDAE) AND TAMARIXIA-LEUCAENAE (HYM, EULOPHIDAE), PARASITOIDS OF THE LEUCAENA PSYLLID HETEROPSYLLA-CUBANA

Age specific fecundity of two parasitoids, P. yaseeni and T. leucaenae , of the leucaena psyllid H. cubana, were studied under laboratory con ditions. At 25-degrees-C, P. yaseeni had a greater fecundity (R0 = 192 .9) than T. leucaenae (R0 = 71.2); T. leucaenae however had a lower se x ratio (about 99 % females) than P. yaseeni (about 50 % females). Inn ate capacity for increase (r(m) = 0.236) of T leucaenae was higher tha n P. yaseeni (r(m) = 0. 188). Developmental rates of the parasitoids w ere exarnined at constant and fluctuating temperatures and equations o f the rate of development against temperature were calculated. At 25-d egrees-C, mean generation times were 28.0 and 18.1 days for P. yaeseen i and T. leucaenae reppectively. At temperatures of 21.5, 25, and 30-d egrees-C total development times (egg to adult) were 28.5, 21.9, and 1 4.7 days in P. yaseeni and 19.2, 12.6, and 9.5 days in T. leucaenae re spectively. The level of parasitism was low and pupal mortality was hi gh at the lower temperature of 21.5-degrees-C for both parasitoids. Bo th parasitoids showed. poor survivorship at 100 % RH, P. yaseeni survi ved particularly well (32 days) at a temperature of 21.5-degrees-C and 44 or 76 % RH. P. yaseeni allocated about 58 % females to first insta r psyllid nymphs but only 12 % females to second instars. About 99 % o f all T. leucaenae births were females. Significantly larger T. leucae nae females emerged from fifth instar parasitized nymphs than third or fourth instars.