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Not AvailablePotential of Dolichogenidea stantoni (Ashmead) as a biocontrol agent for the melon borer Diaphania indica (Saunders) was investigated during 2014-15 at field level. Influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the population dynamics of D. indicaindicted that it was positively correlated with morning relative humidity and rainfall and was negatively correlated with evaporation, parasitism by parasitoids D. stantoni and Goniozus sensorius. Both abiotic and biotic factors collectively contributed 73.7 per cent to the variation in the D. indica population, in which 62.70 per cent of the fluctuation could be predicted by parasitism by D. stantoni alone indicating that parasitism by D. stantoni plays a major role in regulating the population of D. indica.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDiaphania indica (Saunders) is a pyralid moth that causes damage to several cucurbit crops all over the world. Dolichogenidea stantoni (Ashmead) is a gregarious endoparasitoid of D. indica larva. We hypothesized that the degree of parasitism and reproductive success of D. stantoni is affected by the host plant of D. indica. Four host plants were used to determine the success of parasitism by D. stantoni. Choice and non-choice tests showed that D. stantoni is able to parasitize D. indica larvae on the all the four host plants. However, bottle gourd and cucumber had a lower percent of parasitism than bitter gourd and ridge gourd. Our findings revealed that the rate of parasitism and reproductive success of D. stantoni is affected by the host plant of D. indica.Consortia Research Platform on Borers (CRP on Borers) sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi

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Not AvailableThe relative suitability of five instars of Diaphania indica (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a substrate for the development of a larval parasitoid, Apanteles stantoni Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was investigated. Maximum parasitism (22.25 ± 1.21%) under laboratory conditions was observed in the early larval instars. The highest parasitoid emergence was recorded from the second (86.07 ± 0.70%) and third (98.93 ± 0.72%) instar larvae of D. indica, and that from the first larvae was 71.43 ± 1.18%. The number of cocoons in each cluster, length and width of single cocoons, percentage emergence, sex ratio and adult longevity of A. stantoni collected from different instars of D. indica were also recorded. These results indicated that the life stage of the host when the parasitoid larvae complete their final instar is particularly important for their development. Therefore, considering the efficiency of parasitism and reproduction, the second-instar larvae of D. indica is the most suitable stage for mass rearing A. stantoni in the laboratory.Consortia Research Platform on Borers (CRP on Borers) by Indian Council of Agricultural Research [grant number F. No. 33 - 2 / 2013 - IA]