In vitro rearing of Trissolcus basalis [Hym., Scelionidae] an egg parasitoid of Nezara viridula [Hem., Pentatomidae]

In vitro rearing of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Woll.) from eggs collected on the natural host Nezara viridula (L.) was initiated. Several oligidic diets containing insect material (Manduca sexta hemolymph or host egg content) were tested. Our initial medium with 50% hemolymph induced a high egg mortality, but by decreasing the hemolymph concentration, increasing the hen egg yolk concentration and adding 15% of free amino acids mixture, a hatching rate of 85% of the parasitoid eggs was obtained with 39% reaching the second instar and 33% the third instar. In a medium without hemolymph, but with 18% liquid from parasitized host eggs we obtained 90 to 100% hatching, 25 to 27% reaching the second instar and 8% the third instar.