Effect of adult nutrition on biological attributes of pupal parasitoid, Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) pink borer, Sesamia inferens

The biological attributes of Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Eulophidae: Hymenoptera) were studied on different nutrients regimes at 26 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity in the laboratory on pupa of pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The development period varied from 18.00 to 20.0 days in different nutrient regimes and it was at par with each other. The number of progeny emerged from each pink borer pupa was more in honey-water and crushed pink borer solutions as compared to sugar solution and starved conditions. Female progeny was significantly more well fed (91.70 to 92.88%) than under starved condition (89.43%).The sex-ratio (Male: Female) in three nutrition regimes varied from 1:11.18 to 1:13.55. It is concluded that the honey water and pink borer solution could be the optimal food source in providing an adequate amount of nutrition required by T. howardi in its reproduction activity.