Biological Aspects of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphelinus albipodus (Hayat & Fatima) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Parasitizing Mealy Plum Aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Homoptera, Aphidoidea).

The aphid parasitoid, Aphelinus albipodus Hayat & Fatima (Hym.: Aphelinidae) is one of the common aphid parasitoid species in Egypt. Some of the biological aspects of the parasitoid when parasitizing the mealy plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Homoptera: Aphididea) were studied under laboratory conditions. The parasitoid female started parasitizing its host 6 hrs post emergence. Highest activity of the females was recorded at 25°C. Percentage of emergence attained 89.44±4.52%, when the parasitoid females aged 1-4 days. Developmental time of the parasitoid immatures ranged 11-13 days from mummy's formation to adult. The parasitoid adults emerged from the all nymphal instars but with t he lowest numbers (57.59±31.25) from the 4th instar, while the highest (90.03±7.66) was from 3rd instar. The mean sex ratio was 1♂:1.06♀. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]