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Effects of cold storage on the fitness of Bracon adoxophyesi, as an important parasitoid of palm pests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2025

Baozhu Zhong ,
Chaojun Lv ,
Talat M. Abdelrahman ,
Chaoxu Li ,
Wenlian Li  and
Habib Ali Open the ORCID record for Habib Ali [Opens in a new window]
Baozhu Zhong
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 496 Wenqing Avenue, Wenchang City, China
Chaojun Lv*
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 496 Wenqing Avenue, Wenchang City, China
Talat M. Abdelrahman
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 496 Wenqing Avenue, Wenchang City, China Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
Chaoxu Li
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 496 Wenqing Avenue, Wenchang City, China
Wenlian Li
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, No. 496 Wenqing Avenue, Wenchang City, China
Habib Ali*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
*
Corresponding author: Chaojun Lv; Email: lcj5783@126.com; Habib Ali; Email: habib_ali1417@yahoo.com
Corresponding author: Chaojun Lv; Email: lcj5783@126.com; Habib Ali; Email: habib_ali1417@yahoo.com
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Abstract

The cold storage of biological control agents, such as parasitoids, is a valuable method utilised in mass rearing to ensure the availability of sufficient individuals when needed. This study evaluated the effects of storage temperatures of 9°C and 12°C, along with incubation periods of 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days, on the biological fitness of Bracon adoxophyesi Minamikawa (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The results demonstrated that the survival rates of adult wasps exceeded 90.0% after being stored at both 9°C and 12°C for 35 days. At these temperatures, female wasps exhibited their longest lifespan at 14 days, whereas male longevity decreased progressively from 7 to 35 days. The parasitism rates observed were 43.0% at 9°C and 46.0% at 12°C after 7 days of refrigeration, with a subsequent reduction noted after 35 days. The fecundity of parasitic wasps decreased with the extension of storage time, but no significant difference was found in total egg production within 28 days of storage. Additionally, cold storage did not significantly affect the survival of the offspring; however, the proportion of females among the raised offspring was higher than in the control group. In comparing fitness parameters to the control, wasp vitality was notably higher after 21 days of storage at 9°C or 14 days at 12°C, indicating that these combinations of temperature and time are optimal. The findings of this study serve as a reference for optimising cold storage techniques and facilitating the large-scale application of B. adoxophyesi.

Keywords

biological controlBracon adoxophyesiectoparasitoidslow-temperature storageparasitic effect
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 9
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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