Importance of nutrition and host availability on oogenesis and ovipositionof Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera : Bethylidae)

A variety of host and non-host meals were tested for their potential In tri ggering oogenesis and oviposition in females of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem, a synovigenic parasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus ha mpei (Ferrari). The consumption of non-host meals or meals composed of hone y and crushed host eggs or pupae was insufficient to initiate oogenesis. Th e presence of suitable hosts for oviposition appeared essential for inducin g oogenesis and oviposition in this parasitoid. Whereas females may host-fe ed on all developmental stages of H. hampei, these were not equally suitabl e in stimulating oogenesis and oviposition. In no-choice tests, oogenesis a nd oviposition were observed only in females supplied with fully-developed larvae, prepupae and pupae. Direct contact with hosts apparently stimulated egg maturation and egg-laying. Delaying the allocation of energy to egg pr oduction until suitable hosts are available for oviposition may be an adapt ive attribute of a parasitoid of a concealed and patchily distributed host such as H. hampei.