The success of Trichogramma spp. releases in biological control programs relies upon the knowledge of the parasitoid bio-ecological characteristics and the parasitoid interaction with the target pest. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate T. pretiosum host preference among eggs of S. frugiperda, S. albula, S. eridania, A. gemmatalis, P. includens, D. saccharalis and A. kuehniella. Polyethylene cages were set to test host preference of T. pretiosum comparing each two groups of host species. The evaluated parameter was parasitism (%) and parasitoid emergence (%). T. pretiosum females parasitized preferably A. kuehniella eggs. However, in the bioassay with A. gemmatalis X P. includens and D. saccharalis X S. frugiperda there was no difference in the parasitism. Then, in the free choice test, in the absence of the host in which the parasitoid was reared (A. kuehniella), T. pretiosum shows no host preference indicating the existence of pre-imaginal conditioning acquired during larval development. The parasitism viability results were variable among the different tested hosts.
Biological control; egg parasitoid; pre-imaginal conditioning
