Effects of temperature on the development of Eumicrosoma blissae (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of the oriental chinch bug, Cavelerius saccharivorus Okajima (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae)

Abstract

The effects of eight constant temperatures (19-34°C) and a fluctuating temperature (35.5°C/28.5°C) under 14L : 10D photoperiod on the development of the egg parasitoid Eumicrosoma blissae were determined with the oriental chinch bug Cavelerius saccharivorus eggs as a host. E. blissae developed successfully from egg to adult when the parasitized hosts were kept at constant temperatures between 21.0°C and 28.0°C. The rate of adult emergence declined when the temperatures exceeded 31.0°C and no wasps emerged at extremities (19.0°C and 34.0°C). With fluctuating temperature, all wasps emerged successfully. The developmental zero and effective accumulative temperature for development at six moderate constant temperatures were 13.4°C and 256.4 degree-days, respectively. Total potential generations of E. blissae in the summer planting fields of sugarcane through a 1.5-year cultivation period were estimated to be 18 to 19.