Suitability of heat- and freeze-killed oothecae of the American cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) as hosts for an oothecal parasitoid, Aprostocetus hagenowii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of heat- and freeze-killed oothecae of Periplaneta americana (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) as hosts for parasitoid Aprostocetus hagenowii (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The oothecae were subjected to -20, 45, 48, 50, and 55 degrees C at different exposure times (15, 30, 45, and 60 min). The effects of heat- and freeze-killed oothecae on several biological parameters (e.g., parasitism and emergence rates, developmental times, progeny number, and sex ratio) ofA. hagenowii were determined. Embryonic development of 2-d-old oothecae was terminated by either freezing at -20 degrees C or heating at > or = 48 degrees C for > or =30 min. A. hagenowii parasitized live oothecae as well as both heat- and freeze-killed oothecae. Percentage parasitism, emergence rates, and developmental times ofA. hagenowii in both heat- and freeze-killed oothecae were not significantly different from those of the live oothecae. Both heating and freezing did not influence progeny number (male and female) and sex ratio of A. hagenowii emerged from killed oothecae.