Reproduction and immature development of Hyssopus pallidus (Hymenoptera : Eulophidae), an ectoparasitoid of the codling moth

Hyssopus pallidus (Askew) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a gregarious ectopar asitoid of late larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidopte ra: Tortricidae). In the present work reproduction and the development and morphology of the immature stages were studied. Five larval instars were di fferentiated by the shape and size of the mandibles. The larvae are hymenop teriform with a weakly sclerotized head and 13 segments. The first instar h as four pairs of spiracles, while the other four instars have nine pairs. U nder laboratory conditions of 22-24 degreesC: and 60-80% RH the egg stage l asted 1.5 days, the larval instars 6.3 days, and the pupal stage 7.9 days i n females and 7.2 days in males. The duration of each of the five larval in stars (L1-L5) is approximately 1, 0.5, 0.75, 0.75 and 3.5 days, respectivel y. Male and female development time does not differ significantly in the eg g and larval stages, but differences are highly significant in the pupal st age. Male and female pupae can be differentiated by their sexual rudiments. Copulation takes place immediately upon emergence of the females between s iblings, adult males appearing before the females. Females in culture with access to an energy source can survive for more than 60 days. They are syno vigenic: they emerge with no mature eggs in their ovaries and take the Firs t two days after emergence to mature the full set of around 24-30 eggs. The y continue paralyzing hosts, ovipositing and maturing eggs for as long as t hey live. After an oviposition a female needs two to three days to mature a new full set of eggs. Age and feeding influence egg load. Oosorption is si gnificant in starved females, but also occurs in older fed females with no host contact.