Response of the Parasite Lixophaga diatraeae (Tachinidae) to Photoperiod and Temperature

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Abstract
Maggot development of the tachinid Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) reared on the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), was observed under different photo-temperature regimes. No significant photoperiod response was detected at either 27° or 21°C; although, maggot development was slightly longer at 11 h L than at 13 h L. Maggot developmental times were identical for both 10 L 16°C and 13 L 18°C: 11 D 7°C (19 days); however, when maintained at 11 L 18°C: 13 D 7°C, maggot development was extended to ca. 32 days. Parasite survival to pupation exceeded 50% for all regimes maintained at 16°C or warmer and was above 42% at the 7°C regimes. At the cooler temperatures, 21°C and below, additional maggots were observed exiting host larvae up to 48 h after the 1st maggot had emerged. Maggot development at 11 L 21°C was increased 2 days when host larvae were taken off an artificial diet 1 wk prior to parasitization. Parasite development in southwestern corn borer larvae, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, held at 11 L 21°C, was identical to development in D. saccharalis (11.1 days).

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