Biologi Parasitoid Brachymeria lasus Walker (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) pada Ulat Penggulung Daun Pisang Erionota thrax Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Abstract

This research was conducted to study some biological aspects of parasitoid, Brachymeria lasus , such as the life cycle, morphology , and the behavior. Research was carried out in The Laboratory of Parasitoid and Predator Biology, Department of Plant Protection, Bogor Agricultural University. Pupae of Erionota thrax parasitized by B. lasus were collected from the field and then were maintained in plastic containers until the emergence of parasitoid adults. Mated females of B. lasus were kept in a test tube (20 cm long, 3 cm in diameter), and then were provided with 1-day-old pupae of E. thrax to be parasitized. Parasitized pupae of E. thrax then were moved to another test tube and were used for observation of the parasitoid biology. The morphological features of the parasitoid larvae and pupae were observed by dissecting parasitized pupae every day starting on the second day after parasitization. To observe the life cycle of the parasitoid, parasitized pupae of E. thrax were maintained in test tubes until the eclosion of parasitoid adults. In general, adults of B. lasus (females and males) were black in color with the body size was less than 6 mm, and were characterized with the large femur of the hind legs. B. lasus have hymenopteriform eggs, hymenopteriform larvae, and exarate type pupae. The life cycle of B. lasus ranged 13-14 days. Adults of B. lasus mostly emerged in the morning within 07:00 - 11:00 hours