Journal of Entomological Research

Glyptapanteles obliquae (Wilkinson) is a promising biocontrol agent of Pericallia ricini Fab., a polyphagus pest attacking a wide variety of crop pests, including Diacrisia obliquae, Diacrisia obliquae confusa, Amsacta sp etc. super parasitism is very common and up to 50 eggs were laid in the body cavity of a host larva. Under laboratory conditions 100% parasitism of the host occurs. Egg soon after oviposition measures 0.13 ± 0.02 mm in length. At 72 hours after oviposition the egg attains a length of 0.37 ± 0.06 mm and a width of 0.1 ± 0.02 mm. First instar larva appears 4 days after oviposition and measures 0.4 ± 0.04 mm in length and with a width of 0.18 ± 0.02 mm. the mandible measures 0.046 ± 0.003 mm in length and with a width of 0.019 ± 0.001 mm. the fully formed second instar larva measures 4.12 ± 0.5 mm in length It is without a sclerotised mandible. the third instar larva is hymenopteriform and measures 3.3 ± 0.4 mm in length. the larva has a well sclerotised mandible. Molting of the second instar to third instar takes place at the time of emergence of the parasitoid larva from the host body. this protects the remaining second instar parasitoid larva that are still developing inside the host larva from severe damage that might be caused by the mandibles of the molted third instar larva. It is an important parasitoid adaptation evolved for the gregarious life.