Biology of Catolaccus hunteri (Hymenoptera : Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of pepper weevil and boll weevil (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

A general description of the life stages and population parameters of Catol accus hunteri Crawford, an primary ectoparasitoid of pepper weevil, Anthono mus eugenii Cano, and bell weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, is p resented. The parasitoids were reared on the unnatural host Callosobruchus maculatus F. The developmental time of C. hunteri at 27 +/- 1 degrees C was shorter in males than females. Males completed development in 11.46 +/- 0. 46 d from egg to adult emergence. Developmental time in females required 13 .18 +/- 0.81 d from egg to adult at the same temperature. A C. hunteri fema le (n = 20) laid 466.35 +/- 280.39 eggs, of which just 18.35% reached the a dult stage; this could be the result of cannibalistic larval behavior combi ned with high superparasitism observed under laboratory conditions. Female mean longevity was 47.20 +/- 12.76 d. The net reproductive rate (Ro), the g eneration time (G), and the daily intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were 42.7 13, 33.842, and 0.111, respectively. The fecundity of pepper weevil and bol l weevil is discussed.