Effects of temperature on reproductive capacity and longevity of Trissolcus simoni, an egg parasitoid of Eurygaster integriceps

In order to understand the effects of temperature on Trissolcus simoni, some parameters of the life tables of adult parasitoids were investigated under laboratory conditions. The following parameters were measured (the values in parentheses were obtained at 20, 26, and 32 °C temperatures, respectively): net reproductive rate (R_o=37.785, 40.301, and 58.299), intrinsic rate of population increase (r_m=0.111, 0.221, and 0.325), generation time (T=32.77, 16.60, and 12.49 days), doubling time (DT=6.245, 3.136, and 2.133), and finite rate of increase (=1.117, 1.247, and 1.385). Fecundity increased with increasing temperature. The values for total number of eggs deposited per female were 50.1, 64.1, and 68.1, and average female longevity was 24.2, 13.8, and 11.1 days at 20, 26, and 32°C, respectively. Temperature had a significant effect on longevity and oviposition and post-oviposition periods. The results of the study are discussed and compared with life-table parameters of other scelionids.