ASSESSMENT OF HOST PLANT INFLUENCE ON LARVAL ECTOPARASITOID DIGLYPHUS ISAEA'S STINGING BEHAVIOR

Аннотация

The parasitism efficiency of a parasitoid largely depends on its host location and stinging behaviour. This study aimed to assess the stinging behaviour of Diglyphus isaea larvae on some selected host plants. Three host plants, including tomato, eggplant, and pepper, were evaluated for their influence on D. isaea's stinging behaviour. The results showed that the stinging behaviour of D. isaea was significantly influenced by the host plant. The highest frequency of stinging behaviour was observed on tomato plants, followed by eggplant and pepper plants. The study provides insight into the host plant preference of D. isaea, which can be used to optimize its use in biological control programs. KEYWORDS Diglyphus isaea, host plant, stinging behaviour, parasitism efficiency, biological control