Effect of Low Holding Temperatures on Mummies of Copidosoma koehleri Blanchard (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae)

Storage studies Were conducted on the mummies of Copidosoma koehleri Blanchard, an encyrtid polyembryonic parasitoid of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella. The effect of storing C. koehleri mummies at 10°C and 15°C for periods ranging from 10 to 50 days was studied in the laboratory. Pre-emergence period was considerably delayed in the case of mummies stored at 10°C. The number of adults emerging per mummy was higher when stored at 15°C, but at this storage temperature, beyond 30 days, emergence occurred in storage. Considering the different storage temperature - period combinations, storage at 10°C for 10 days was most suitable as in this treatment, high per cent survival, maximum number of adults per mummy, and maximum fecundity were obtained. Hence, storage of C. koehleri mummies for 10 days at 10°C is suggested.