Kairomone induced host selection and rearing of Meteorus species, a larval parasitoid of Pericallia ricini Fabricius

Meteorus species, a larval parasitoid of Pericallia ricini Fab. oviposits in I^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and ^4th instar larvae of P. ricini. It completes its life stages with three larval instars. When second instar larva of P. ricini was given as host, the parasitoid completed its life cycle in 16.5 ± 1 day at 28°C. When 50 second instar larvae of P. ricini were provided to ten adult female parasitoid, 64% parasitism was noted in one hour with successful adult emergence of 54%. When second instar larvae of Corcyra Cephalonica smeared with crude Kairomones of Pericallia ricini were given as host to Meteorus sp. 44% parasitism was noted with 28% successful adult emergence. When second instar larvae of C. Cephalonica were given without Kairomones of P. ricini none of them were parasitised. When the parasitoid was reared in second instar larva of its unnatural host Corcyra cephalonica using the crude Kairomone extract of its natural host P. ricini, its life cycle was completed in 21 ± 1 day at 28°C. The total duration of immature stages of the parasitoid is completed in 16.45 ± 1.06 days at 28°C when reared in its natural host, P. ricini. The cocoon of Meteorus sp. is characteristic and it hangs from twigs leaves etc. by a fine thread, often several inches long. When Meteorus sp. was reared in unnatural host C. Cephalonica the cocoon develops inside the larval gallery of C. Cephalonica and lacks the suspending thread. In the field it is hyperparasitised by Eurytoma braconids Ferriere (6.4%), Aphanogmus manilae Ashmead (3.2%), and by Brachymeria sp. (11.3%).