The effects of honey variety on longevity of the adult parasitoid, Bracon Hebetor say, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

The effects of various honey produced in Turkey on the longevity of the adult lepidopteran parasitoid, Bracon hebetor was investigated. Experiments were carried out in laboratory conditions, 25±1°C and relative humidity of 60±5%. There was no photoperiodic regimen used during the experiments. Larvae of Galleria mellonella were used as a host to rear the parasitoid adults. After the newly emerged adult parasitoid males and females were separated according to sexes, they were fed individually with only water, flower-honey, sunflower-honey, chesnut-honey, lavender-honey, and oak-honey. Observations continued daily until all parasitoids died and sex discrimination was made on the dead parasitoids. All experiments were repeated three times with different adult parasitoids and at different times. The longevity of male parasitoids obtained from sunflower-honey fed adults was the highest, while the highest longevity of female parasitoids was obtained from lavender-honey fed adults. Female parasitoids lived longer than male parasitoids in all experimental groups. Feeding with different honey types significantly increased the longevity of both male and female parasitoids compared to those that were fed only water. Differences between the longevity of parasitoids in all experimental groups can probably be explained by the different composition of the nutritional components of each honey and how this corresponds to the metabolic requirements of the parasitoid.