Effects of quercetin on adult longevity and egg load of parasitoid Bracon hebetor Say, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

In this study, it was investigated the effects of quercetin on adult longevity and egg load of parasitoid, Bracon hebetor. Experiments were carried out in laboratory conditions at 25± 1 ºC temperature and 60±5 % relative humidity. Any photoperiodic regimen was not used during the experiments. Larvae of Galleria mellonella was used as host to rear parasitoid adults, they were separated according to sexes and they were divided to the four experimental groups. While male and female parasitoids in first group were starved, quercetin soaked cotton balls were given in second group, quercetin and sucrose soaked balls were given in third group, and 1:4 (w:v) diluted sucrose soaked cotton balls given in fourth group. Experimental sets are controlled every day until all parasitoids are dead, and the dead parasitoids are removed and recorded according to sexes. All experiments were repeated as three times with different adult parasitoids and at different times. Male parasitoids starved lived mean 6.81 days, fed with quercetin lived 6.28 days, with quercetin and sucrose lived 34.56 days, and with sucrose lived 29.34 days. Female parasitoids starved lived mean 15.15 days, fed with quercetin lived 9.34 days, with quercetin and sucrose lived 60.49 days, with sucrose lived 63.10 days. Female parasitoids in all experimental groups lived longer than male parasitoids. Feeding with quercetin and sucrose were increased longevity of male but were not increased the longevity of female parasitoids. The use of quercetin and sucrose as food significantly increased longevity of male and the egg load of female parasitoids. According to results of experiments, the most common quercetin concentration is 3 mg/mL for adult parasitoids. According to this results, Bracon hebetor can used as model organism in Ageing studies and an effective biological control agent in Biological control.