Ecological and biological studies on some parasitoid species associated with scolytus amygdali Guer. ( coleoptera: Scolytidae) in fayoum governorate, Egypt.

Includes reference.

A study to survey parasitoid species associated with the almond bark beetle, Scolytus amygdali Guer. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) was carried out at fiayoum Governorate, Egypt during the period extended for two years; Jan. 2006 until Dec. 2007. Results revealed the presence of eight hymenopterous parasitoid species parasitizing this insect pest i.e., Rhaphitelus maculatus Walk, Cerocephala cornigera West, Cheiropachus quadrum L., Eurytoma sp., E. morio Bohem,Cephalonomia mycetophila Kieff, Metacolus sp. and Dendrosoter protuberans Nees. The two main parasitoid species (R. maculatus and C. mycetophila) had three peaks during the successive years of study 2006 and 2007. The parasitoids were reared under the laboratory conditions (25± 1 °C and 65± 5 % R.H). Longevity of males and females averaged 12.40 and 18.60 days for R. maculatus and 14.10 and 18.70 days for C. mycetophila, respectively. Mean number of eggs laid was 29.2 and 21.4 eggs/female for R. maculatus and C. mycetophila, respectively. Total durations of immature stages were 20.8 ± 0.15 days for R. maculates and 18.80 ± 0.12 days for C. mycetophila.

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