Density-dependent fitness and mass-rearing of Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) incorporating life table variability

The ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important natural enemy insect deployed for controlling lepidopteran larvae in warehouses and fields. However, there is limited information on mass-rearing methods of H. hebetor. This study investigated the effects of different Ephestia elutella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and parasitic egg densities on the fitness and mass-rearing efficiency of H. hebetor, aiming to determine the optimal conditions for developing an economically viable and sustainable mass-rearing system for this parasitoid. Our results showed that the average number of eggs laid per host dropped below 7.54 eggs when the number of hosts exceeded five. H. hebetor exhibited significantly increased preadult survival rate (67.41%–81.00%), female and male body size (2224.55–2379.83 μm, 2213.39–2324.65 μm), fecundity (443.98–492.43 eggs), net reproductive rate (R₀ = 154.57–216.67 offspring), intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.2776–0.3223 d⁻¹), net paralyzed rate (C₀ = 72.37–93.17 larvae), and net parasitism rate (Z₀ = 43.55–55.04 larvae) at a density of 5–15 eggs per host than at 20 eggs per host. Meanwhile, considering rearing costs and production rate, a density of 5–15 eggs per host proved to be the most economical for mass-rearing H. hebetor, achieving a daily harvest rate of 10,000 newly emerged female adults. Therefore, for an efficient mass-rearing system for H. hebetor, maintaining a density of 5–15 eggs per host is recommended considering variability in life table and discarding aged individuals (after 36 days old). In summary, providing 5–10 5th instar larvae of E. elutella per day per pair of male and female parasitoid wasps is advised for effective mass-rearing of H. hebetor.