Study of biological characteristics and development of methods for laboratory rearing of the parasitoid Dibrachys cavus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)
Keywords:
entomoacariphagous arthropod collection, parasitic hymenopterans, rearing methods, storage, lepidopteran pestsAbstract
The primary objective of a living collection of entomoacariphagous arthropods is to preserve species biodiversity and their gene pool for reproduction under natural and laboratory conditions. The aim of this research was to replenish the bioresource collection of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection» with the parasitoid hymenopteran Dibrachys cavus, as well as to study its biological characteristics, identify optimal rearing conditions, and investigate its trophic specialization. In 2023, adult D. cavus were collected in vineyards in the Temryuk District of Krasnodar Area. Optimal rearing and storage conditions were determined, and the insect host selected were the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. Storage of D. cavus at 15 °C (achieving metabolic slowdown) and 4 °C (development arrest) for 15 and 25 days at the adult stage did not negatively affect its developmental parameters. Under laboratory conditions, D. cavus effectively parasitized the larvae and pupae of the Eeuropean grapevine moth Lobesia botrana, the green oak tortrix Tortrix viridana, the yellow rose tortrix Acleris bergmanniana and the codling moth Cydia pomonella.
