Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Pupal Age as a Determinant of Suitability by Brachymeria intermedia (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae)

Brachymeria intermedia females were exposed to 1 to 9-day-old, field-collected gypsy moth pupae in a host age choice test to determine the optimal host age for parasitism. Data were collected on the number of visits to the pupae and successful parasitism after a 2-h exposure period. The relative proportion of mortality due to other factors is also given. Analysis of the data revealed that peak visitation was with 3-day-old pupae; it also revealed three suitability classes due to host age: 1- to 3-; 1- to 2-; and 4- to 6- and 5- to 9-day-old-pupae.