Rearing, Biology and Storage of Indonesian Strain of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) Using Sugarcane Stalk Borer Chilo auricilius Dudgeon as a Host

Laboratory investigations were carried out on rearing, biology, host stage suitability and storage of Indonesian strain of larval parasitoid Cotesiaflavipes (Cameron) using Chilo auricilius Dudgeon as a host. The parasitoid could be successfully reared on larvae of C. auricilius for 11 successive generations without affecting the biotic potential greatly. Adults of C. flavipes lived for 8.7±3.3 (male) and 5.4±2.3 (female) days. The egg + larval, cocoon and total developmental periods of the parasitoid were 15.2±0.3, 8.5±0.3 and 23.7±0.4 days, respectively. Third to fifth instar larvae of C. auricilius were significantly more preferred for oviposition wherein they completed their development successfully. Three day old cocoons could be stored at 10°C for 15 days with 71.6 per cent emergence.