The parasitism capacity of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) was studied, under temperatures of 18; 20; 22; 25; 28; 30 and 32°C aiming to evaluate the number of days with parasitism, cumulated parasitism, total number of eggs parasitized per female and their longevity. Parasitism during the first 24 hours ranged from 1.6 to 16 eggs of P. xylostella per T. pretiosum female in the range of 18 to 32°C. Cumulated egg parasitism of P. xylostella by T. pretiosum reached 80% after 2; 16; 11; 3; 5; 4 and 7 days at 18; 20; 22; 25; 28; 30 and 32°C. Higher parasitism rates were recorded at 25; 28 and 30°C while longevity of T. pretiosum females varied from 2.3 to 13.3 days under temperatures of 18 to 32°C.
Plutella xylostella; biological control; Trichogrammatidae
