Effects of curcumin concentration and periodically feeding on adult longevity and egg load of parasitoid, Bracon hebetor Say, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

In this study, the effects of different curcumin concentrations and periodic feding on the adult longevity and egg load of the parasitoid, Bracon hebetor Say, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were investigated. The experiments were carried out under the controlled laboratory conditions at 26±1°C and 60±5% relative humidity. No photoperiodic regime was applied during the experimentss. The highest adult longevity in female parasitoids was obtained in the 5 µM at the curcumin supplemented feeding group. There was no significant difference in male parasitoids compared to the control group. In periodic feding experiments, 5 µM curcumin added food was used. The highest adult longevity in female parasitoids was obtained in the one-day starved and one-day fed group, while in the male parasitoids it was obtained in the continuously fed group. Although the effect of curcumin concentration on egg load fluctuated with age, it tended to increase as the concentration increased. Female parasitoids lived longer than male parasitoids in all feeding groups. According to our results, Bracon hebetor can be used as an effective biological control agent in biological control.