The eVect of dietary supplements on the longevity of male and female Gonatocerus ashmeadi, G. triguttatus and G. fasciatus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), was determined in the laboratory. Treatments included: water only, 3:1 honey–water solution, Xoral and extraXoral nectars from Wve diVerent plants (excised stems from Fagopyrum esculentum, Lobularia maritima, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Anethum graveol...

Laboratory studies were carried out to compare the toxicity of seven foliar insecticides to four species of adult beneficial insects representing two families of Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae (Aphytis melinus Debach, Eretmocerus eremicus Rose & Zolnerowich, and Encarsiaformosa Gahan) and Mymaridae (Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault) that attack California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell); sweetpo...

Classical arthropod biological control programs lack a universally adopted, broadly utilitarian, and standardized risk assessment testing strategy for precisely estimating physiological and ecological host range of potential biological control agents. We implemented a rigorous host specificity testing protocol for estimating potential physiological and ecological risk to non-target species pose...

The reproductive and developmental biology of Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault, a parasitoid of the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata (Say), was determined at five constant temperatures in the laboratory: 15; 20; 25; 30; 33 C. At 30 C, G. ashmeadimaintained the highest successful parasitism rates with 46.1% of parasitoid larvae surviving to adulthood. Lifetime fecundity was greatest ...