Rate of Increase and Adult Longevity of Catolaccus grandis (Burks) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in the Laboratory at Four Temperatures

The reproductive potential and longevity of adult females of Catolaccus grandis (Burks) (an exotic parasitoid of the cotton boll weevil) were determined under laboratory conditions at four constant temperatures (25, 30, 35, and 40°C ± 1). The resulting data were used to calculate life tables and rates of increase at each temperature. The effect of food and water availability on longevity at 25, 30, and 35°C was evaluated on groups of 10 adult wasps. A female of C. grandis oviposited means of 679.24,498.8,76.15, and 0.0 eggs at 25, 30, 35, and 40°C, respectively, and had a mean longevity of 63.55, 46.35, 20.8, and 9.0 d at the same four temperatures respectively. The net reproductive rate was 58.4, 28.35,4.3, and 0.0; the daily intrinsic rate of increase was 0.134, 0.159, 0.082, and 0.0; and the weekly rate of increase was 1.052, 1.327, 0.692, and 0.0 at 25, 30, 35, and 40°C, respectively. The food treatments that included honey significantly increased longevity with respect to those treatments that lacked it. Treatment including only water did not increase longevity significantly with respect to the control (no food or water).