INFLUENCE OF HD1 (BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS SSP. KURSTAKI) ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF DIADEGMA SP. (HYM., ICHNEUMONIDAE) PARASITOID OF PLUTELLA-XYLOSTELLA (LEP., YPONOMEUTIDAE)

Laboratory experiments have shown that HD1 strain of Bacillus thuringi ensis Berliner has adverse effects on Diadegma sp. Young larvae of Plu tella xylostella (L.), the diamondback moth (DBM), were killed by B. t huringiensis when the larvae were parasitized by Diadegma for only a s hort time (less than two days). Larvae were parasitized for more than two days before adding the bacterium, however, they decreased their fo liar consumption (35% less) and therefore consumed fewer spores of B. thuringiensis. The low mortality of the DBM allows the parasitoid to f inish its development. The presence of HD1 does not effect the Fl gene ration of Diadegma sp. There are no significant differences in the tim e of the larval stage and pupal development, sex-ratio, longevity of a dults and percentage of parasitism between adults from HD1 infected or non-infected larvae.