Bionomics Of Aprostocetus Prolixus (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), An Egg Parasitoid Of Apriona Germarii (Coleoptera: Cerambydiae)

1) Morphology: Aprostocetus prolixus further differs from A.fukutai by having all coaxes black to very dark metallic.2) Life-history: The parasitoid had 2-3 generations a year in Bao Ding, and entered into a quiescent state as matured larvae inside the hosts to over-winter.3) Generation time: There was no significant difference in the developmental time between male and female. The mean generation times at 20癈 25癈 27. 5癈 and 30. 0癈 were 51. 52d 38. 25d 32. 98d 30. OOd respectively. The thermal threshold and thermal sum for the development were 7.21 癈 and 673.47 day-degrees respectively.4) Female reproductive system: The female reproductive system comprised of paired ovaries paired lateral oviducts the genital chamber spermatheca and spermathecal gland, and the accessory glands: the genital chamber gland acid gland alkaline gland .No median oviduct. Each ovary had 6-10 ovarioles, the number of progeny per female was 28.7 eggs. Each ovariole contains 1-3 mature or nearly mature eggs.5) Parthenogenesis: The adult female had parthenogenetic phenomenon. Offspring was male.6) Sex ratio: The sex ratio was 2.36:1 in nature, and increased 3.48:1 and 3.92:1t by feeding 20% honey for its complementary nutrition and cold storage 15 days. *frespectively.7) Behavior: Adult emergence most 7~8h and 15~16h. Males mated more than once, but females were unreceptive after a successful copulation. Female would not parasite host unless it was contained within bark. Aprostocetus prolixus51usually parasite only one host-egg. The age of parasitoid (1~3 days old) had better ability on the host acceptance behavior of the female parasitoid. The female wasp favorite to parasite l~3days old host egg, and 2 days old was most favorite. With increased host density, there was an increase in average number of progeny per female, but there was a decrease in egg parasite rate. With an increase in female parasitoid density, there was a conseponding increase in egg parasite rate and the average number of progeny per female. There were significant discrimination ability in parasitic and unparasitic egg in female wasp.8) Nutrition: Feeding the wasp 20% honey and 20% yeast, female wasp reproduction increased.9) Temperature: With increased temperature from 17.5癈 to 35 癈,adult longevity had a gradual decreased. Fecundity varied directly with temperature from 17.5 癈 to 35癈. A temperature range of 25 "C to 30癈 was favorable for survival and reproduction of the parasitoid. At 27.5癈 ,the adult female had highest reproduction. The female wasp didn't ovipositor at 17.5癈, and at 35 癈 fecundity decreased considerably signifying an adverse effect of high temperature.10) Humidity: With increased from RH40% to RH 80%, fecundity had a signifying increased.11) Cold storage: There was no significant difference in the number of progeny per female between cold and no cold after the adults 10 days, host egg 40 days, matured larvae 90 days of cold storage.12) The distribute and rates of parasite in HeBei: Aprostocetus prolixus sp. n. distributes in the Apriona germarii. Area. Its percentage of parasite varies from 8.7% to 75%. There was significant difference in the rates of parasitization among Morus alba L. Populus tacamahaca Mill. Broussonetia papyrifera Vent., During Apriona germarii. Emergencing, rates of paratization were all higher. Aprostocetus prolixus was potential biological control agents of Apriona germarii.