Effect of parasitism by microplitis rufiveutris kok. On cuticle thickness Of spodoplera littoralis (boisd.) Larvae [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present study was initiated to investigate the question of weather or not the cuticle measurements differ in thickness In newly molted third instar spodoplera littoralis (boisd.) (lepidoptcra:noctuidae) larvae parasitized by microplitis rufiveutris kok. (hymenoptera: braconidae), a solitary koinobiont endoparnsitoid of some noctuid pests. Thrl:c days After parasitism, the cuticle measurements were significantly thinner in parasitized larvae when compared \vith healthy Host larvae. Tile effect of parasitism by m rl!/iventris wasps on the cliticle thickness of s. Iilfnralis larvae startl'd tn b(' Significantly greater when the wasp larvae developed to the 2nd_3l"d instars. The reduction in the cuticle thickness in Parasitized host larvae averaged 13.7, 17.35,30.58,68.53 and 71.7% during 1day (20h), 3, 4, 6 and 8 days postparasitization.

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