Effect of Adult Nutrition on Longevity and Fecundity of Dinarmus basalis (rond.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Abstract

The role of adult nutrition on longevity and fecundity of Dinarmus basalis was examined. There were significant differences in longevity and egg production on different diets (P < 0.001). On an average, body fluid-fed females of D. basalis lived for 26.6 days and produced 392.8 eggs; virgin females lived for 27.95 days, but produced 362.75 eggs. Honey-fed females lived a maximum of 31.2 days but produced 368.3 eggs than body fluid-fed D. basalis whereas glucose-fed females lived for 26.75 days and produced 312.6 eggs. Longevity and fecundity of females of D. basalis fed on sucrose and distilled water was more or less the same (distilled water, 20.35 days and 247.15 eggs;' sucrose, 21.15 days and 265.9 eggs). The minimum longevity and fecundity were observed for lactose-fed females (17.45 days and 172.0 eggs). A significant relationship between total production of eggs and total longevity of females (r = 0.914 and b = 14.77, P<O.OO1) was noticed.