LIFE TABLE AND INTRINSIC RATE OF INCREASE IN APANTELES AGILIS ASHMEAD, A LARVAL PARASITOID OF DIAPHANIA PULVERULENTALIS (HAMPSON).

Abstract

Life table and intrinsic rate of increase have been studied in Apanteles agilis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of Diaphania pulverulentalis (Hampson). The longevity of ovipositing females of A. agilis, ranged from 6 to 8 days (mean 7.4 days). The number of progeny produced averaged 47.3 range 40 – 53) individuals. The male : female offsprings averaged 1 : 1.529 (range 1
: 1.208 – 2.00). The first adult mortality was on the fifth day. Average length of immature stages of parasitoid was 16 days. The maximum progeny production per day, (mx) was 12.7 on third day and reproduction stopped on seventh day. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) per female per day was 0.180 and population multiplied 27.94 times in mean generation time ‘T’ of 18.50 days.