Body size as an indicator of parasitoid quality in male and female Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae)

The parasitoid Anagyrus kamali Moursi was recently introduced into the Cari bbean as a biological control agent against the hibiscus mealybug, Maconell icoccus hirsutus Green. In the laboratory, parasitoid size, as measured by left hind tibia length, was positively correlated with several indicators o f the parasitoid's fitness: longevity, mating preference, fecundity, reprod uctive longevity, progeny emergence and sex-ratio. When fed ad libidum with honey drops, large male parasitoids lived significantly longer (29.1 +/- 6 .5 days) than small ones (18.4 +/- 5.7 days). Large females also lived sign ificantly longer (35.4 +/- 10 days) than small females (27.9 +/- 9.6 days). Females showed no significant mating preference between large and small ma les. Lifetime fecundity was positively correlated with the size of adult fe males and ranged from 37 +/- 21 eggs for small females to 96 +/- 43 eggs fo r large ones. The reproductive longevity, daily oviposition rate, and numbe r of progeny were also higher among large parasitoids. The sex ratio of pro geny from small female parasitoids was higher (0.76 +/- 0.24) than that of large individuals (0.47 +/- 0.18).