Biology and Parasitic Potential of an Indigenous Braconid Parasitoid on Gelechiid Leafminers

The gelechiid leafminers, Aproaerema modicella Deventer and Phthorinaea (=Tuta) absoluta Meyrick are the most devastating pests of groundnut and tomato. Biological control based on indigenous natural enemies to manage these leafminers may be a fitting strategy. In this view, the biology and performance of an indigenous, gregarious, ecto larval parasitoid, Avga choaspes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was test verified against both the gelechiid leafminers. A. choaspes recorded highest parasitization of 57.33 and 43.67% on fourth instar A. modicella and P. absoluta larvae, respectively at 5: 15 ratio under laboratory condition. A. choaspes produced more number of progenies on fourth instar A. modicella and P. absoluta larvae than on other instars. Developmental biology of A. choaspes indicated that the parasitoid could complete its life cycle with a shortest developmental period (11.20± 0.37 days) on P. absoluta than on A. modicella (13.60± 0.24 days). It is evident that, A. choaspes is an effective parasitoid against both gelechiid leafminers and amenable for mass culturing on P. absoluta with short developmental span.