Effects of Sugar Supply on Longevity and Progeny Production of an Aphid Parasitoid, Aphidius ervi (Hymeno-ptera: Aphidiidae)

Abstract

We investigated effects of sugar solution on adult longevity, progeny production and progeny sex ratio of Aphidius ervi in the presence and absence of host aphids. When female parasitoids were provided with 50% glucose–fructose solution in 1 : 1 ratio, they lived approximately twice longer than those provided with distilled water, irrespective of host aphid provision. The same effect of sugar solution was also observed on progeny production. When the parasitoid was fed sugar solution, its lifetime progeny production approximately doubled in comparison to that provided with water, whereas daily progeny production did not differ. Total number of female progeny did not differ between adult female provided with water and sugar solution, but significantly larger number of lifetime male progeny production was observed in females provided with sugar solution than females fed with water, because only male progeny was produced by females fed with sugar solution late in oviposition period.