Reproductive Capability and Longevity of the Parasitic Wasps Telenomus podisi1 and Trissolcus euschisti12

The daily production of progeny, fecundity, and longevity of Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were determined at 21°C, using Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs as hosts. Maximal production of offspring by T. podisi and T. euschisti occurred on days 1 and 2, respectively, after emergence of the adult from the host egg. Adult female T. euschisti lived 3 times as long as T. podisi ($$\bar x$$ = 36.5 and 12.2 days, respectively) and produced ca. 1.6 times as many offspring ($$\bar x$$ = 63.7 and 39.6, respectively).