Impact of Laboratory Rearing on Some of the Biological Characteristics of the Endo-Parasite Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Baddour, Z.S., A.M. Ramadhan and E.M. Mohamed. 2024. Impact of Laboratory Rearing on Some of the Biological Characteristics of the Endo-Parasite Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(1): 94-101. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001209 This study was carried out in the entomology laboratory of the Department of Biological Control, Lattakia Directorate of Agriculture during the 2021-2022 growing season. The laboratory mass rearing of Cotesia glomerata was carried out on the larvae of Pieris brassicae (L.) which was reared on cabbage as a host under laboratory conditions (temperature 25±2°C, relative humidity 60±5%, photoperiod (day:night) 16:8 h. The biological parameters of the parasitoid C. glomerata were evaluated for three subsequent generations. Results showed a decrease in the females ratio and an increase in the males ratio through successive generations, and the average sex ratio in the third generation reached to 0.75:1 (female:male). A reduction in both male and female longevity was also observed with subsequent generations, reaching 25.8±1.85 days in the third generation. The decrease in parasitism rate was very high in the second and third generation reaching 50% and 34.33%, respectively, compared to the first generation (83.33%). Results obtained showed an increase in males ratio, a decrease in parasitoid longevity 100 دلجم ،ةيبرعلا تابنلا ةياقو ةلجم 42 ددع ، 1 ( 2024 ) (female and male), and an increase in the duration of one generation of the parasitoid from 21.8 days in the first generation to 25.8 days in the third generation. The duration of the pupae reached 7.55 days in the first generation and 8.25 days in the third generation.Thus, the laboratory rearing by promiscuous mating needs continuous support of laboratory strains with field strains, and improving the conditions of insect host rearing. Keywords: Cotesia glomerata, Pieris brassicae, mass rearing, biological study.