Parasitism Efficiency of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and Trichogramma pintoi Voegele on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller Eggs Reared on Different Larval Diets

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating fish meal and corn meal at varying proportions into the diet of the host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on the parasitism efficiency of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and T. pintoi Voegele (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Eggs from E. kuehniella females, reared for two generations on five experimental larval diets and a standard control diet (50% wheat flour + 50% wheat bran), were parasitized by both parasitoid species. The number of parasitized eggs and adult emergence rates were quantified. Statistical analysis revealed that host larval diets significantly influenced parasitism efficiency and that adult emergence rates differed between species. The highest number of parasitized eggs was recorded in Diet 4 for T. evanescens (53.3 eggs) and in Diet 2 for T. pintoi (50.75 eggs). Adult emergence rates peaked at 94.37% for T. evanescens and 85.56% for T. pintoi. Eggs from E. kuehniella reared on fish meal-containing diets exhibited parasitism rates comparable to those from the control diet. Fish meal did not impair parasitism efficiency, indicating its suitability as a component in host larval diets.