short and brief ppt about the Bracon hebetor (insect predator) for entomology department. it is an informative presentation for students as well as knowledge seekers. it will be more helpful for entomological department students.
3. Introduction
• Bracon hebetor is a minute Braconidae wasp that is an internal
parasite to the caterpillar stage of Plodia interpunctella, the
Indian meal moth, in the late larval stage of the Mediterranean
flour moth and the almond moth and many others
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4. Life cycle & Biology
• At 30 °C (86 °F), the life cycle of the wasp is about ten to
thirteen days from initial parasitism to final emergence of the
adult
• The adult female parasite lives about 23 days during which it
produces about 100 eggs
• It deposits 1 to 8 eggs in individual paralyzed
late instar moth larvae
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5. Continued…………..
• Freshly laid eggs were creamy white in color and become
translucent later.
• The deposited eggs were spindle shaped slightly curved and
loosely attached to the surface of the host body 0.6mm long
• Hatch in 1-2 days
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6. Continued…………..
• Larvae: The mature larvae were creamy white
in color and apodous
• Lives inside the host body
• The length of larvae is 0.4mm
• The larval duration is 2 to 4 days
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7. Continued…………..
• Pupation take place outside the host body within a white
colored cocoon
• The mature pupae are dark brown and exarate type
• The length of pupal cocoon is 3.3 to 4.1 mm
• The pupal duration
is 4 to 6 days
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8. Life cycle & Biology
• Adult: The color variation is yellowish brown to dark brown or
black
• The body length of female is larger than male.
• The length of male and female adult varied from 2- 3mm and
• 3-4mm respectively
• Male has large antennae
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9. Hosts
• The Lepidoptera species are founded as host
1. Indian meal moth
2. Mediterranean flour moth
3. Almond moth
4. Rice moth
5. Wax moth
6. Angoumois grain moth
7. Corn earworm
8. Tobacco budworm
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10. Mode of action
• Bracon hebetor larva releases an enzyme in gut of caterpillar
which destroys the blood proteins and body fluid of that larva
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11. Economic importance
• It is the biological control of a large number of moth larvae of
stored grain and crop insect pests
• Some pests are mentioned in previous slide
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