Biology of Gregarious Parasitoids of Uzi Fly, Exorista bombycis Louis (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Biology of indigenous parasitoids namely. Trichopria sp., Exoristobia philippinensis Ashmead and Spalangia endius Walker of the uzi fly Exorista bombycis Louis was studied in the laboratory. All the parasitoids lived significantly longer in the presence of host and diet compared to either diet or host. They preferred to parasitize 2-4 days old host pupae and per cent parasitism was highest (4.23,5.0 and 8.43) on this age group. Adult parasitoids mated soon after emergence. The average fecundity was higher in E. philippinensis and Trichopria sp. compared to S. endius. Arrhenotokous parthenogenesis occurred in all the three species of parasitoids.