Influence of gibberellic acid on some biological parameters of ectoparasitoid, Bracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Different concentrations (2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 mg/L) of gibberellic acid (GA₃) were used to determine the effects of plant growth regulators on development, fecundity, sex ratio and longevity of parasitoid Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared on greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Treatment with GA₃ prolonged the developmental period of female wasps at 2, 50, 500 and 1000 mg/L and at 10, 500 and 1000 mg/L in male wasps. However, GA₃ did not negatively affect the fecundity and sex ratio of parasitoid. Bracon hebetor females reared on GA₃-treated hosts had lower longevity at 10, 500 and 1000 mg/L than the females reared on untreated hosts. For males a significant decline in longevity was also recorded at 5 and 10 mg/L with respect to controls.

Keywords

• Gibberellic acid
• Bracon hebetor
• Developmental time
• Fecundity
• Longevity

References

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