EVALUATION OF SUPERPARASITISM BEHAVIOR OF THE LARVAL PUPAL ENDOPARASITOID CHRYSOCHARIS PARKSI (CRAWFORD) (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE) ON THE SERPENTINE LEAF MINER LIRIOMYZA TRIFOLII (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE)

Abstract

Supperparasitism behavior of the endoparasitoid Chrysocharis parksi was evaluated. Broad bean (Vecia faba), was selected as a host plant. Hundred infested leaves with L. trifolii were taken weekly. Samples were kept in plastic bags and transferred to be examined in the laboratory. Hundred parasitized larvae were collected weekly. Larvae were checked and number of the parasitoid immatures was recorded. Out of (1700) parasitized larvae (1224) were solitary parasitized and, (513) were superparasitized. The total number of the parasitoid individuals recorded (2329) while, the parasitoid host ratio was (1.37: 1). Total percentage of solitary parasitism recorded (69.82%) and, the total percentage of superparasitism recorded (30.17%). Superparsitized larvae were divided as follow: the presence of 2 larvae in a single host larva (first type) (423) (82.45%), the presence of 3 larvae in a single host larva (second type) (75) (14.61 %), and, the presence of 4 larvae in a single host larva (third type) (15) (2.92%). The highest occurrence of solitary parasitism recorded (87 solitary parasitized larvae) combined with (229 L. trifolii larvae/ 100 infested leaflets) recorded in 2nd of February. The highest occurrence of the first type of superparasitism recorded (41) in 14th of January combined with (194 L. trifolii larvae / 100 infested leaflets). The highest occurrence of the second type of superparasitism recorded (12) in 17th of December combined with (138 L. trifolii larvae / 100 infested leaflets). The highest occurrence of the third type of superparasitism recorded (3) in 21th of January combined with (141 L. trifolii larvae / 100 infested leaflets). The highest average occurrence of solitary parasitism recorded in February (80.50 ± 6.45) combined with the highest average occurrence of L. trifolii (284.25±37.45).