Malays. Appl. Biol. (2006) 35(2): 21–28
EFFECT OF HOST LARVAL STAGES ON DEVELOPMENT AND OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOUR OF APANTELES METESAE NIXON (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE), A PARASITOID OF THE OIL PALM BAGWORM, METISA PLANA WALKER (LEPIDOPTERA: PSYCHIDAE)
SALMAH, M.1, IDRIS, A.B.1* and BASRI, M.W.2
1 School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Sciences & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
2 Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), P.O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the effect of various larval stages of oil palm bagworm, Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) on development and oviposition behaviour of Apanteles metesae Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The stages of M. plana larvae used were the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th instars. Result showed that the different of host larval stages significantly (P < 0.05) affected the number of larvae parasitized by the adult A. metesae and the percentage of A. metesae adult emergence. The developmental times of A. metesae from eggs till adult emergence was significantly (P < 0.05) different among host larval stages. However, there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in a developmental time of parasitoid amongst the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th host’s instars larvae. A. metesae female did not oviposit on the 2 nd and 7th larval instar of M. plana. The host larval stages significantly (P < 0.05) affect the oviposition behavior of A. metesae female on M. plana larvae. It was noted that the parasitoid female was thelytokous. This is the first record for species A. metesae in genus Apanteles that the reproduction is without mating and all offsprings are females.
ABSTRAK
Kajian makmal telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan pelbagai peringkat larva ulat bungkus kelapa sawit, Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) terhadap pembentukkan dan kelakuan oviposit Apanteles metesae Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Peringkat instar larva yang digunakan adalah peringkat kedua, ketiga, keempat, kelima, keenam dan ketujuh. Hasil menunjukkan bahawa peringkat larva perumah yang berbeza telah memberi kesan yang beerti (P < 0.05) terhadap bilangan larva yang diparasit oleh A. metesae dewasa dan peratusan penjelmaan A. metesae dewasa. Masa pembentukkan A. metesae dari masa bertelur sehingga penjelmaan A. metesae dewasa mempunyai perbezaan beerti (P < 0.05) terhadap peringkat larva perumah. Namun, tiada perbezaan beerti (P > 0.05) pada masa pembentukkan parasitoid terhadap peringkat instar larva ketiga, keempat, kelima dan keenam. A. metesae betina tidak mengoviposit pada peringkat instar larva kedua dan ketujuh M. plana. Peringkat larva perumah mempengaruhi secara beerti (P < 0.05) kelakuan parasitisme A. metesae betina terhadap larva M. plana. Telah didapati bahawa parasitoid betina adalah telitokus. Ini adalah rekod pertama untuk spesies A. metesae dalam genus Apanteles di mana mengawan tidak diperlukan untuk penghasilan semula dan semua anak adalah betina.
Key words: Apanteles metesae, Metisa plana, host stage, development, oviposition behaviour
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