This paper deals with the reproductive capacity of the endoparasitoid Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hym.: Eulophidae) on lepidopteran host pupae: Diatraea saccharalis F. (Pyralidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith and Heliothis virescens Fabricius (Noctuidae). The experiments were carried out under control (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH, 14-hour photofase). Parasitism did not differ significantly among host species. However there was significant difference in the progeny emergence, with the highest number for S. frugiperda (130.6 ± 5.8 offsprings/pupa) and lowest for H. virescens (105.3 ± 2.9 offsprings/pupa). However no significant difference between D. saccharalis (122.9 ± 5.5 offsprings/pupa) and A. gemmatalis (118.3 ± 6.5 offsprings/pupa) was observed.
insect; endoparasitoid; pupa