Impact of peach extrafloral nectar on key biological characteristics of Trichogramma minutum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

This study investigated the longevity, fecundity, and host feeding of a wild and a commercially reared strain of Trichogramma minutum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) when presented with peach extrafloral nectar. Both the wild and commercial T. minutum strains lived longer and parasitized more Grapholita molesta (Busck) eggs when provided peach extrafloral nectar and water than when provided only water. Nectar-fed wild and commercially reared females lived 11.6 and 9.9 d and produced 105.2 and 61.0 offspring, respectively. When provided only water, wild females lived 3.3 d and produced 52.8 offspring, whereas commercially reared females lived 2.0 d and produced 24.4 offspring. Nectar feeding significantly increased the number of G. molesta eggs destroyed by host feeding by both wild and commercial strains.