Impact of extrafloral nectar of Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae) on life history parameters and parasitization of Aenasius advena Compere (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) Pungavi R.1,*, Nalini T.1 1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002 (Tamil Nadu), India *(e-mail: r.pungavientomology@gmail.com)
Online published on 29 November, 2023. Abstract Studies were conducted to observe the effect of extrafloral nectar (EFN) on the life history parameters of Aenasius advena Compere in the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India. Longevity of A. advena was found highest in females and males at 26.80 and 15.70 days when fed with EFN, respectively which was followed by 100% honey and glucose. Among the treatments EFN and 100% honey the number of female and male progenies produced per female ranged from (highest to lowest) 46.40, 22.00 to 6.00, 2.00 and 23.58, 26.00 to 1.00, 0.20, respectively during four weeks. The provision of EFN and 100% honey to mated female produced 40.45 and 24.44 eggs during four weeks, respectively. The sex ratio (female) of A. advena was recorded highest as 77.78 in EFN in 1st week and 83.33 in 100% honey in 4th week. Parasitization of A. advena on Ferrisia virgata was found highest for EFN (65.14 %) and 100% honey (47.22%) during the second week. Thus, providing EFN can boost parasitoid survival, fecundity, sex ratio (female) and parasitism rates. Top Keywords Aenasius advena, Extrafloral nectar, Life history parameters, Parasitization. Top |