Date of Award:

5-1-1968

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Entomology

Committee Chair(s)

Ting H. Hsiao

Committee

Ting H. Hsiao

Abstract

The biology, life history, oviposition behavior, and host synchronization pattern of Amblymerus bruchophagi (Gahan) were studied under laboratory conditions. The possibility of rearing this parasite on unnatural hosts was also investigated. The development of the parasite from egg to adult was 10.5 days at 27 C; one generation requires less than two weeks. The average life span of the male was 20.7 days, almost 10 days less than that of the female. Females laid an average of 251 eggs over a period of 35 days. It was apparent that photoperiod had little effect on the development of A. bruchophagi at 27 C. Photophases of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours were tested. The number of larvae entering diapause from each group was insignificant. A lack of synchronization between the adult emergence of A. bruchophagi and the alfalfa seed chalcid was found. This finding suggests the presence of alternate hosts for this species in the spring when seed chalcid larvae are not available for the parasite to oviposit on. A. bruchophagi was propagated successfully on five unnatural hosts from three insect orders. These were: Musca domestica, Sarcophaga bullata, Nomia melanderi, Bathyplectes curculionis, and Callosobruchus maculatus. None of these species have been reported as hosts for this parasite previously.

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