Effect of different host plants on the development time and parasitization rate of eretmocerus dehachi rose and rosen (hymenoptera: aphelinidae) withparabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (homoptera: aleyrodidae) as insect host

The effect of six citrus and five non-citrus host plants on the developmental time ofEretmocerus dehachi Rose and Rosen (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), the parasitoid ofParabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was studied under laboratory conditions. On citrus host plants, the mean developmental time from egg to adult was shortest on lemon with 14.6 days and longest on trifoliate orange with 26.3 days. On non-citrus host plants the developmental time ranged between 16.3 days on vine and 23.0 days on pomegranate. Among the various host plants tested,E. dehachi preferredP. myricae on sweet orange. A high mortality ofP. myricae due to host feeding and parasitization was observed on sweet orange and grapefruit among citrus host plants and on rose among non-citrus host plants.