BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PARASITOID ENCARSIA SP OF SUGARCANE WHITEFLY ALEUROLOBUS BARODENSIS (MASKELL) FROM SINDH, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Whitefly is one of the serious sucking pests of sugarcane crop. There is an essential
need to control through economical and environmental friendly natural enemies. Among them the
Encarsia sp. is most important parasitoids of whitefly Aleurolobus barodensis, for the control of
whitefly the biological development stages of Encarsia sp. were studied in field/ laboratory condition
at PARC-National Sugar and Tropical Horticulture Research Institute, Thatta. The Encarsia sp.
completed their life stages from egg to pupa except adult stage in sugarcane whitefly nymphal instars.
The adult head, legs, body was yellow colour with membranes wings. Female adult of Encarsia sp.
lays their eggs in the all nymphal instar of hosts from 1st to 4th. The oviposition period of Encarsia sp.
was observed ranged from 5-16 days with mean 8.57±1.01, the fecundity of female ranged from 53-
222/ female with mean 123.47±19.60. However, the sex ratio of female was more than male adult with
an average 56.67±16.44 %. The Longevity of adult females was ranged from 6-18 days with a mean of
13.03±1.18 and male longevity ranged from 5-16 days with a mean of 10.33±0.92 days. However, the
overall longevity of adults was ranged from 5-16 days with mean average 11.83±1.26 days.