BIOLOGY OF BRACHYMERIA BENGALENSIS (CAMERON) AND BRACHYMERIA LASUS (WALKER) (HYMENOPTERA : CHALCIDIDAE) PUPAL PARASITOIDS OF PIERIS BRASSICAE (LEPIDOPTERA : PIERIDAE)
H. SUDERSANA DEVI *
ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH LABORATORY, DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES, MANIPUR UNIVERSITY, CANCHIPUR-795 003, INDIA
T. K. SINGH *
ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH LABORATORY, DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES, MANIPUR UNIVERSITY, CANCHIPUR-795 003, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Developmental biology of Brachymeria bengalensis (Cameron) and B. lasus (Wik.) of Pieris brassicae was studied in laboratory. The female parasitoid preferred only 2 to 3 days old pupa for parasitization. They usually deposited one egg in a host pupa. On an average a female laid 19-21 eggs during its life time. The females lived longer than males. Sex ratio is highly female biased.
Keywords: Brachymeria bengalensis, Brachymeria lasus, developmental biology, parasitoid, Pieris brassicae