Abstract

We evaluated the effects of adult mating and temperature on the biological potential and parasitism of Telenomus podisi (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) on Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Females were isolated and the characteristics of the F1 generation were compared with those of females previously copulated. The parasitism capacity of T. podisi on E. heros eggs at 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C was evaluated. The longevity of parental females (days), egg-adult period (days) of the F1 generation, parasitism of parental females (%), and parasitoid emergence (%) were not influenced by the lack or not of the copulation. The offspring of non-copulated females were males, and arrhenotokous parthenogenesis occurred. The temperatures most favorable to the parasitoid were 25 and 30 °C. Even previously copulated females generated mostly males after a few days of oviposition. Therefore, the biological characteristics and reproduction of T. podisi were impacted by adult mating prior to parasitism and by different temperatures. Although parasitism of T. podisi was not affected by mating parasitoid permanence in the field, it may be affected when unmated females are released.

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