Cold Storage of Lysiphlebus testaceipes1 Mummies 2

A method for cold storage of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) mummies was developed. The length of the life cycle of L. testaceipes was increased 3–4 times by this method. Mummies were stored at 10, 7.2, 4.4, and 1.7±1°C and 70–80% RH for periods of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days. Two ages of mummies were used to initiate storage: 3-day-old mummies (prepupae) and 6-day-old mummies (ca. ⅔ pupae and ⅓ prepupae). Survival was higher when 3-day-old mummies were used. The optimum temperatures were 7.2 and 4.4°C. The parasitoids did not store well for more than 30 days, but a few adults emerged from mummies after 90 days at 4.4 and 1.7°C. Fewer stored females reproduced than unstored, but the amount of reproduction was comparable between stored and unstored females. Many adults emerged from mummies during storage at 10°C, and most died in storage when stored for more than 15 days. There was some adult emergence in storage at 7.2°C. More than 50% of the dead insects at 7.2 and 4.4°C were adults. Few of the parasitoids that were stored at 1.7°C and died developed beyond the pupal stage. No emergence occurred in storage at 4.4 or l.7°C.