Influence of temperature on the development and parasitisation rate of the egg parasitoid Telenomus species (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera)

Telenomus species (S16) is an important egg parasitoid of Spodoptera litura. Laboratory studies on the influence of temperature on the development and parasitisation rate of the parasitoid indicated effective parasitisation (88.24 per cent), optimum development (14.25 days) and higher adult longevity (13.80 days) at 27°C, when the eggs were offered for 24 h. increase in temperatures at constant exposure period of the eggs, showed decrease in all these biological attributes studied. The parasitoid strain was able to tolerate temperatures up to 36 ± 1°C.