JASFT-Abstract

Effects of Photoperiod on the Immature Developmental Time of Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Esmat Hegazi, Wedad Khafagi and Neama Aamer

 

Full Length Research Paper  I Published February,2017

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 3 (1), pp.1-6

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Apan teles galleriae Wilkinson and its host larvae, Galleria mellonella (L.) normally live in near-continuous darkness in the beehives, Apis mellifera. Both species develop with no known diapaus, in Egypt. The effects of photoperiods (Light: Dark): 0L: 24D; 6L: 18D; 12L: 12 D; 18L: 6 D and 24L: 0D at constant temperatures: 20, 25, 27 and 30°C on the immature developmental time of the wasp were investigated. The influence of photoperiod on the developmental time of the egg-larval and prepupal-pupal stages of the parasitoid is significantly noticeable at 20°C. The continuous darkness (0 L: 24 D) accelerated the development of both the egg-larval and pupal stages, while both the short photoperiod (6 L: 18 D) or continuous light (24 L: 0 D) slowed down the development. At complete darkness, the number of days from oviposition to emergence of adults was 21 and 23 days for males and females, respectively, prolonged to 27 and 29 days at short photoperiod (6 L:18 D) and 31 and 33 days at long photoperiod (18L:6 D), respectively. This pronounced effect of photoperiod at 20°C on the immature developmental time of the wasp disappeared as the temperature increased to 25, 27 or 30ºC.


Key Words:
Apanteles galleriae, Galleria mellonella, photoperiod, temperature, immature development.
 

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