BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND HOST STAGE PREFERENCE OF MEALYBUG PARASITOID AENASIUS BAMBAWALEI HAYAT (HYMENOPTERA: ENCYRTIDAE)

Present study was conducted to investigate the biological characteristics and host stage preference of mealybug parasitoid, Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) an endophagous, nymphal and solitary parasitoid of cotton mealybug , Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Preliminary experiments were conducted in vitro regarding its biological characteristics and host stage preference at controlled conditions (28 oC±1, 70 ± 5% % (RH) and 18 h L /6 h D). Our findings show that host swells, ceases its movement and turns in to hard leathery structure called “Mummy” after 4 and 8 days of parasitization respectively and 12-17 days are required to complete its development from first day of parasitization till emergence of adults from the mummies. Only single parasitoid adult was emerged from each mummy. Female lived for 15-32 days under laboratory conditions, whereas male died within one week. Female of the parasitoid parasitizes 165 mealybugs in its entire life and sex ratio of male and female was recorded as 1:2. Further, it is reported that 3rd instar host nymphal stage is the most preferred and suitable stage for parasitization by A. bambawalei as compared to other two host stages (1st and 2nd). This preliminary information regarding its biology and host stage preference will help us in its effective rearing and exploring its parasitization potential in biological control programmes of mealybugs.