Study on the Breeding Biology and Captive Rearing of Bracon brevicornis
Godavari *
Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Manjula
Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560065, Karnataka, India.
Karthik V C
Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The extensive use of synthetic insecticides in agriculture, especially in developing countries, has caused severe environmental and health issues, such as pest resistance and biodiversity loss. This study explores the potential of biological control as a sustainable alternative by examining the life table parameters of the parasitoid wasp, Bracon brevicornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on its host, Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The research involved the rearing of C. cephalonica and B. brevicornis under controlled conditions as well as the monitoring of their life cycle stages. Key findings include an incubation period of 1.5 days, a larval period of 4.5 days, and a pupal period averaging of 5 days, with the adult longevity ranging from 23 to 40 days. The study observed high rates of egg hatching (89.3%), pupation (95.8%), and adult emergence (93.8%), and an average fecundity of 200-240 eggs. These results highlight B. brevicornis as a promising biological control agent, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.
Keywords: Bracon brevicornis, biology, biocontrol agent