A.M. HEKAL
Faculty of Agriculture, Am Shams University , Cairo , Egypt .

ABSTRACT

Biology and habits of Elasmus plazyedrae Ferr., a gregarious ectoparasitoid of diapausing larvae of Pecrinophora gossypiella (Saund.) were studied at 25 0 C and 65% R.H . Developmental durations of immature stages and feeding habits were estimated. Number of developing progeny of virgin females on a single host larva exceeded that of mated ones . Sex tatio of males to females was 1:3.5, while unmated females produced males only. Mating occurs soon after adult emergence . Mated females laid 32.1 eggs during 14.9 days , while virgin ones deposited 19.5 eggs within 9.8 days . Singly captivated males survived longer than those which were allowed to mate • while the reverse was recorded for females.

Key Words: Elasnuat platyedrae, Pectinophora gossypiella Biology Habits