The objective of this work was to study the biology and determine the thermal requirements of Trichogramma pratissolii Querino & Zucchi reared on Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 and 33ºC. The highest percentage of emergence of T. pratissolii was obtained at 27ºC on A. kuehniella and from 24ºC to 30ºC on C. cephalonica. The lower threshold temperature (Tb) and the thermal requirement (K) of T. pratissolii were 12.59ºC (Tb) and 122.85 degree-days (K) when reared on A. kuehniella and 11.73ºC (Tb) and 139.80 degree-days (K) on C. cephalonica. These results indicate that both A. kuehniella and C. cephalonica are suitable hosts for T. pratissolii mass rearing. The optimal temperature for the immature development and emergence of T. pratissolii on A. kuehniella was 27ºC and 24ºC to 30ºC on C. cephalonica.
Insecta; biological control; alternative host
