本研究在4種恆溫(18、23、28、33℃)環境下,測試寄生於瓜實蠅(Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett))(雙翅目:果實蠅科)幼蟲的單員內寄生蜂(solitary larval endoparasitoid) Psyttalia fletcheri (Silvestri)(膜翅目:小繭蜂科)的壽命、不同日齡期雌寄生蜂的寄生能力及存活率,與其子代發育時間。結果顯示P. fletcheri成蟲平均壽命隨溫度上升而縮減,在18℃時最長,雌、雄寄生蜂分別為20.4、18.7日,分別與23℃時無顯著差異,但與28、33℃則呈顯著差異。P. fletcheri雌寄生蜂均能在18、23、28℃等3種溫度環境下,自羽化後第2日齡起,成功寄生瓜實蠅第3齡幼蟲而產出子代,隨日齡變化之平均累計子代數的迴歸分析中,發現在23℃環境下比其他二種溫度具有顯著最高的繁殖潛能,平均每一雌寄生蜂一生約可產85.8隻子代。而P. fletcheri子代在此3種溫度下的發育時間,則隨溫度增加而縮短,由卵發育至羽化為雌寄生蜂分別需要36.0、20.3及15.8日,三種溫度處理間呈現顯著差異。本研究之發現可應用於設定室內飼育溫度,縮短大量繁殖此寄生蜂的時程,或作為配合田間溫度應用於瓜實蠅生物防治之參考。
In this study, we evaluated the survival rate, parasitism, and progeny development time of a melon fly larval endoparasitoid, Psyttalia fletcheri (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) held at four constant temperatures (18, 23, 28, and 33°C). The mean longevity for male and female parasitoids was recorded at 18°C, which were 20.3 ± 8.9 and 18.7 ± 9.5 days, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the mean values obtained at 18°C and 23°C; however, longevity was shorter at 28 and 33°C than at 18 and 23°C. Female parasitoids produced offspring from the second day at 18, 23, and 28 °C. No progeny was recorded for female parasitoids at 33°C. The mean total number of progeny produced per P. fletcheri female parasitoid (85.8) was significantly higher at 23°C than at the other two temperatures according to the results of the regression analysis of accumulated progeny. Progeny development time decreased with increasing temperatures, with mean values of 36.0 ± 0.2, 20.3 ± 0.1, and 15.8 ± 0.3 for female parasitoids when reared at 18, 23, and 28°C, respectively. Progeny development time differed significantly among the temperatures. The results of this study can be applied to mass rearing or integrating field temperature for the biological control of melon fly.