Trichopria khandalus(Hym., Diapridae): a new biocontrol agent of the uziflyExorista bombycis(Dipt., Tachinidae)

Biological control of the silkworm pest (Exorista bombycis) was partly successful by using a new hymemopteran biocontrol agent Trichopria khandalus, recovered from the environs of a cocoon market in Hindupur district of Andhra Pradesh (India). T. khandalus is a tiny (1–1.5 mm) endoparasite, the females were found to parasitize the uzifly puparia. The progeny developed inside the uzi pupa, and the adults (140–160 individuals from a single pupa) emerged after about 18–25 days depending on the seasonal extrinsic factors. The lift cycle of T. khandalus averaged 32 days. Due to the favourable sex ratio (2:3 male/female) and high preference to parasitize uzi puparia it is qualified as a good biocontrol agent for the control of E. bombycis. Prospects for utilizing this hyperparasite to manage and eliminate the uzi populations are discussed in the light of its data on biology, and easily manageable mass multiplication in the insectary.