African and European trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae): a comparison of some biological attributes

Four native African and three European trichogrammatid egg parasiroid species/strains were compared on the basis of biological attributes namely; capacity of parasitism, progeny production and adult longevity. Investigations were undertaken using the factitious host Sitotroga cerealella Olivier which was also used to rear the species. One European species, Trichogramma dendrolimi parasitized the greatest number of eggs while another, T. cacoeciae, the only thelytokous species tested had the highest longevity. There were no significant differences in parasitism, progeny production and longevity between most of the parasitoid species/strains tested. Tichogramma sp. nr. mwanzai (L), T. sp. nr. mwanzai (M) and Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr. lutea (H) among the native African species/strains were identified as promising candidates with high potential for utilization for practical biological control in Kenya.