Relationship between number of ovipositions of Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) and number of descendants emerged from its host Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.)

Relação entre o número de oviposições de Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) e o número de descendentes que emergem de seu hospedeiro Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.)

Females of Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) were individually introduced into Petri dishes containing one larva of its host Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.). Each C. flavipes female was allowed to oviposit once or twice in the same larva. Time of emergence of larvae and adults, sex-ratio, number of non-viable larvae and pupae, and longevity of adults of C. flavipes were recorded. Data revealed that two successive ovipositions in the host did not affect sex-ratio, but increased number of parasitoids and number of non-viable larvae and pupae.

Insecta; parasitoid; superparasitism; sex-ratio; viability