Host Suitability and Biology of Paratheresia Claripalpis Wulp. (Tachinidae: Diptera)
The biology and host suitability of Paratheresia claripalpis Wulp was studied by employing 6 host species, viz. Acigona steniellus (Hampson), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Chilo infuscatellus Snellen, Chilo auricilius (Dudgeon), Tryporyza nivella Fabricius and Galleria mellonella Linnaeus. The A. steniellus proved to be most suitable host. On A. steniellus the larval, prepupal and pupal period was completed in 8.6 ± 0.06, 1.4 ± 0.06 and 18.13 ± 4–0.42 days respectively.