EVIDENCE FOR DIEL ACTIVITY OF OPHION FLAVIDUS BRULLE (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE), A PARASITOID OF THE FALL ARMYWORM1

Abstract

The diel activity of Ophion flavidus Brulle (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was determined by observing the movement of two-day-old mated female parasitoids confined with 4th-instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on R4-R5-stage peanut plants. Observations were made for 1-h periods at 0600, 1200, 1830, and 2400 h CST. Fourteen O. flavidus adult females were used in the study. Movement of O. flavidus was greater (P = 0.05) at 0600 and 2400 h than at 1200 or 1830 h. Attacking and/or ovipositing occurred more frequently (P = 0.05) at 0600 and 2400 h than at 1200 or 1830 h.