On the Biology of Campoletis perdistinctus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in Madhya Pradesh, India

Publisher： Entomological Society of America

ISSN： 1938-2901

Source： Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.57, Iss.5, 1964-09, pp. : 570-574

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Abstract

Campoletis perdistinctus Viereck is an important solitary parasite of Heliothis armigera (Hübner) in Madhya Pradesh, where about ⅓ of the larvae of this pest of gram (Cicer arietinum L.) are parasitized by it. The wasps mate for 2.2–4.5 minutes, and oviposit in 2- to 4-day-old first-instar host larvae when the latter are covered by a slight web of silk and excreta. Only 1 parasite per host is able to develop. There are 4 molts during the life cycle, the first 3 occurring in the host's body and the last one before pupation. Parasites start constructing cocoons while emerging from their hosts; cocoons of males and females are distinguishable by their white and buff colorations, respectively. During January and February the entire life cycle was completed at room temperatures in 17–23 days; in March, with warmer temperatures, the period was shortened to 14 days. Adult longevity of each sex averaged about 12 days. Fieldcollected cocoons of C. perdistinctus were hyperparasitized by Eurytoma broitmi Crawford and Brachymcria n. sp. C. perdistinctus is here reported for the first time from the Orient.