Eignung der extrafloralen Nektarien der Ackerbohne als Nahrungsquelle für den Parasitoiden Ascogaster quadridentata Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Suitability of extrafloral nectaries of the faba bean as nutritional resource for the parasitoid Aseogaster quadridentata (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) Ascogaster quadridentata WESMAEL (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is a common egg-Iarval parasitoid of Tortricidae like codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. Females parasitize the eggs of the host and parasitoid larvae delevop inside the host larva. Adult wasps do not host-feed and need other resources for nutrition, preferably nectar. In order to develop methods for enhancing parasitoid activity in apple orchards, we tested the suitability of faba bean, Vieia faba L. as potential source for extrafloral nectar. We could confirm in laboratory tests that males and females of A. quadridentata exploit droplets of extrafloral nectar and that longevity and parasitism capacity is increased when having access to faba bean plants in comparison to providing only water. Further experiments should test the possibility of planting faba bean plants in the orchard as well as proving the enhancing effect of this extrafloral nectar source on beneficial arthropods also under field conditions.