International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Javed Khan, Muhammad Zakria, Ahmad-Ur-Rahman Saljoqi, Ehsan Ul Haq, Ashraf Khan, Awais Rasool, Imtiaz Khan, Rabia Ali, Irfan Ahmad, Bashir Ahmad

Abstract
Research experiments were conducted to check the effect of two fictitious hosts, Sitotroga cerealella and Corcyra cephalonica eggs on biological attributes of Trichogramma chilonisat Insect pest management program, Bio control laboratories, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad. Both free choice and no choice techniques were exercised. Maximum percent parasitism (94.0%) was observed on S. cerealella and (88.0%) on C. Cephalonic aeggsunder no choice method. Host’s eggs age study indicates that T. Chilonis preferred (12 to 24) hours old eggs of both host insects. Host eggs age drastically reduced emergence of adults as the age of the eggs proceed. A single female T. Chilonis parasitized (26.4) and (25.0)eggs of both S. cerealella and C. Cephalonic arespectively. Maximum emergence (26.1%) by T. Chilonis was observed in S. Cerealella when the parasitoid was reared on 30 eggs/density. The results of the present studies indicate that T. chilonis can successfully be mass reared on eggs of both host insects. On the basis of the present results S. cerealella eggs was more suitable for mass production of T. Chilonis. However, C. cephalonica eggs may also be used as an alternate host for mass production of Trichogramma under controlled conditions.