Host Stage Preferences of Three Major Parasitoids of the Banana Skipper (Erionota thrax) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Abstract

Oviposition preferences of three major identified parasitoids; Ooencyrtus erionotae Ferrière (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), Cotesia erionotae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and Brachymeria albotibialis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) of Erionota thrax (L.) (Lepidoptera: Hersperiidae) eggs, larvae and pupae respectively were studied in the laboratory and field during a high-density period of the pest. Egg stage I (newly laid), stage 2 (intermediate), and stage 3 (advanced) were susceptible to O. erionotae oviposition. Stage 3 was the most preferred egg host with a mean of 3.4 adult parasitoids emerging per egg. For C. erionotae, second, third, and fourth larval instars were susceptible. The third instar larva was the most preferred stage for oviposition with a mean of 87 adult parasitoids emerging per larva. For B. albotibialis, only prepupae and pupae were susceptible. The pupa was the most preferred host stage with mean of 7.1 adult parasitoids emerging per pupa. In the case of O. erionotae and C. erionotae, no super-parasitism or multi-parasitism was observed.