Some aspects of the efficiency of Cotesia sp.[Hymenoptera: Braconidae]in infecting the larose of Tarucus rosacea[Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae]

ABSTRACT

The study has indicated that Cotesia sp. Parasite is very efficient in infecting the larvae of Traucus rosacea and it infects all the larval stages of the host in the same degree. The highest percentage of parasiting was [76.10 percent] during May-2001. However, the parasite showed no activity during March, August and September of the same year, but it was very active in October [56.25] which is the highest average realized by the parasite in one year. It has been found that these is a clear congruity between the increase in the larvae number and the increase in the host's larvae. The study has also showed that the parasite females do not prefer laying their ages on some of the larvae in particular. No significant difference were noticed in prefer the parasite infecting on host's larvae. There is no effect of the Zizyphus tress on the present of the parasites. The highest percentage of parasiting was [88.88 and 89.74 percent] in April and May in case of the fourth larval stage. The lest percentage of parasiting in the first larval stage was [50.00 and 30.00 percent] in April May respectively