The density of parasitoids per host affects their biological characteristics. The present study aimed to evaluate the development of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pupae exposed to 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1 or 12:1 females/ host, respectively. The parasitoid remained in contact with pupae for 24 h in glass tubes (14.0 x 2.2 cm), packed in a climate controlled chamber regulated at 25 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and photophase of 14 hours. We observed 54.54 and 90.90% of pupae parasitized at densities of 1:1 and 2:1, respectively, and 100.00% in the other densities with a better emergence index (72.72%) at a density of 6:1. The duration of the (egg-adult) life cycle decreased with increasing density of females and varied from 20 to 22 days. The offspring varied from 16 to 225 descendants per A. gemmatalis pupae with best results at the density 8:1. The sex ratio of the parasitoid varied from 0.95 ± 0.00 to 0.97 ± 0.01 without significant differences, and the body length of females and of males varied from 1.95 ± 0.02 to 2.22 ± 0.03 mm and 1.49 ± 0.02 to 1.87 ± 0.01 mm, respectively. Six to eight of P. elaeisis females per A. gemmatalis pupae provide more emergence and offspring of the parasitoid, allowing for its mass rearing.
Alternative host; mass rearing; parasitism rate; parasitoids