Effect of Cold Storage on the Survival of Copidosoma varicorne (Nees) (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae) a Parasitoid of Dichomeris eridantis Meyr. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The effect of low temperature during cold storage on the survival period, mortality and fecundity of adult Copidosoma varicorne (Nees) was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions of 11.00 ± 1.00°C. Adult longevity was maximum 120 hrs. after 48 hrs. of storage. Specimens stored at 11 ± 1°C temperature increased longevity period which was significant, when compared with control. These studies were carried out during April-June, 1998 to explore the possibility of using C. varicorne as a promising biological control against Shisham defoliator (Dichomeris eridantis Meyr.) in the field including augmentation and innundative release on large scale in future under social forestry programme.