Mass production of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko using Ephestia kuehniella Zell. eggs stored in liquid nitrogen

In this study, Ephestia kuehniella Zell. (Flour moth) eggs were stored in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) for at different times (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks). E. kuehniella removed from the warehouse. After examining parasitic performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko species, their performance in mass production of stored eggs were investigated. The studies were carried out for 16 hours for 8 hours in dark conditions at %60 ± 70 humidity at 25 ± 1°C. As a result of the study, it was found that E. kuehniella eggs stored in liquid nitrogen for 5 weeks can be successfully parasitized by T. evanescens and T. brassicae, and no eggs have been parasitized in stored for 6 weeks. However, in both species, it was determined that 3 weeks were the most suitable time for storage, both in terms of parasitic number, opening number and number of females of E. kuehniella eggs stored in liquid nitrogen and in the performance of female parasitoids obtained from eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. Keywords: Trichogramma evanescens, Trichogramma brassicae, Ephestia kuehniella, Liquit nitrogen, mass production.