Effect of different host plants on the development time and parasitization rate of Eretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) with Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) as insect host
The effect of six citrus and five non-citrus host plants on the developmental time of Eretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), the parasitoid of Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was studied under laboratory conditions. On citrus host plants, the mean developmental time from egg to adult was shortest on lemon with 14.6 days and longest on trifoliate orange with 26.3 days. On non-citrus host plants the developmental time ranged between 16.3 days on vine and 23.0 days on pomegranate. Among the various host plants tested, E. debachi preferred P. myricae on sweet orange. A high mortality of P. myricae due to host feeding and parasitization was observed on sweet orange and grapefruit among citrus host plants and on rose among non-citrus host plants