Functional Response of Dinarmus basalis (Rond.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) Parasitizing Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)

Abstract

The functional response of the parasitoid Dinarmus basalis (Rond.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is determined to evaluate its potential as a biological control agent. Four female wasps in the presence of males parasitoids, were allowed to oviposit during their life span or hosts at different densities. The data were fit by Rogers? (1972) parasitoid model. The rate of parasitoid search was a?= 0.123 ±0.005 life span-1, and handling time Th = 0.056 ± 0.002 life span-1. Volume of grain had no significant (P>0.001) effect on number of parasitoids emerging. Key words: Functional response; Dinarmus basalis; Callosobruchus maculatus J. bio-sci. 14: 11-16, 2006