Comparative Performance of Trichomalopsis Uziae A Pupal Parasitoid of The Tachinid Exorista Bombycis

Trichomalopsis uziae Sureshan and Narendra Kumar (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a newly reported ectopupal parasitoid of the tachinid fly Exorista bombycis (Louis), an endolarval parasitoid of the mulberry silk worm (Bombyx mori L.) is also found to parasitize house fly (Musca domestica L.) and blue bottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria L.) The present study deals with the comparative account of parasitism potential of the parasitoid in addition to its reproductive efficiency. When these hosts were exposed independently to the parasitoid (no choice), the parasitism as well as progeny production were significantly higher with E. bombycis compared to M. domestica and C. vomitoria, respectively. But, when these hosts were offered together to the parasitoid (choice condition), the parasitism and progeny production were significantly superior with E. bombycis in comparison with M. domestica and there was no parasitism with C. vomitoria. The results thus demonstrate the suitability of E. bombycis as a suitable host.