Influence of Constant Temperature on Development and Reproduction of Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a Parasitoid of the Spiraling Whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani is an important parasitoid of Aleurodicus dispersus Russell. The effects of temperature (16, 20, 24, 28, and 32°C) on development and reproduction of this parasitoid on A. dispersus were studied in laboratory experiments. The developmental duration of E. guadeloupae varied from 14.9 (32°C) to 54.4 days (16°C). The developmental threshold and thermal constant for an entire generation were 10.52°C and 308.85 degree-days, respectively. The highest survival rate (63.8%) of immature E. guadeloupae was recorded at 28°C. The average adult longevity ranged from 6.0 (32°C) to 15.1 days (16°C). The highest fecundity was observed at 28°C. The intrinsic rate of increase (r ₘ), net reproduction rate (R ₒ), and finite rate of increase (λ) were the highest at 28°C, which were 0.18, 54.25 and 1.21, respectively. We concluded that 28°C is the most suitable temperature for development and reproduction of E. guadeloupae.