Host preference and development of Habrobracon hebetor on larvae of Arenipses sabella and Ephestia cautella

ABSTRACT Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an larval ectoparasitoid, mainly of pyralid moths. The almond moth, Ephestia cautella Walker and the greater date moth, Arenipses sabella Hampson are two economic pyralid pests of date palm that were found to be attacked by the parasitoid. Although parasitised larvae of A. sabella are often encountered in the field, no data were available regarding their interaction with the parasitoid. The suitability of A. sabella as a host of H. hebetor was assumed, so it was tested and compared to that of E. cautella, which has received much research attention as an important host of the parasitoid. The parasitoid proved to be able to develop and reproduce on A. sabella larvae, and no significant difference was detected with E. cautella larvae. When the larvae of the two hosts were offered simultaneously to female parasitoids for 48 h, the rates of paralysis (0.98) and parasitism (0.93) were higher on E. cautella and consumed less time when checked every 12 h. This is likely because it is almost half the size of A. sabella. The larger size of A. sabella larvae supported the parasitoid to deposit more eggs on it. The nonsignificant difference in the results suggests that the parasitoid does not prefer one of the hosts over the other. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of H. hebetor against A. sabella for use in biological control strategies for controlling this pest after conducting more research in this promising area.