[Population parameters of three parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae, Encyrtidae) hosted by the predator Podisus...

The reproductive parameters of Telenomus podisi, Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Ooencyrtus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) were studied for three generations on their natural host Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). A parasitism rate of 10 eggs/day/species was used under laboratory conditions of 27 +/- 1 degrees C, 60 +/- 10% RH and 14 h of photophase. No significant differences were detected between generations in terms of net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), generation time (T) and the effect of doubling time on population increase (DT). However, T. podisi and T. brochymenae had significantly higher Ro and rm values, and lower T and DT values, with rm 1.59 and 1.50 times higher than Ooencyrtus sp., respectively. In addition the former species also had shorter egg-adult period, greater longevity of females and reproduction period than the other species. These results confirm the greater reproductive potential of T. podisi and T. brochymenae, which are commonly found parasitizing P. nigrispinus.