Habrobracon hebetor

Habrobracon hebetor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Braconidae
Genus: Habrobracon
Species: H. hebetor
Binomial name
Habrobracon hebetor
(Say, 1836)
Synonyms
  • Bracon hebetor Say 1836[1]
  • Bracon juglandis Ashmead 1889[2]
  • Habrobracon juglandis (Ashmead 1889)[3][4]
  • Braco brevicornis Wesmael 1838[5]
  • Bracon brevicornis Wesmael 1838
  • Habrobracon brevicornis (Wesmael 1838)[6]

Habrobracon hebetor is a minute Braconidae wasp that is an internal parasitoid to the caterpillar stage of Plodia interpunctella, the Indian meal moth, in the late larval stage of the Mediterranean flour moth and the almond moth.[7][8]

Use in biological control

The gut enzymes from the Habrobracon hebetor wasp quickly destroy the blood proteins in the moth larvae; thus it is an effective biocontrol agent.[9]

Life cycle

At 30 °C (86 °F), the life cycle of the wasp is about ten to thirteen days from initial parasitism to final emergence of the adult. The adult female parasite lives about 23 days during which it produces about 100 eggs. It deposits 1 to 8 eggs in individual paralyzed late instar moth larvae.

Radiation

The Habrobracon is remarkably resilient to radiation. While it takes 400-1000 rads to kill a human, and 64,000 to kill the fruit fly (well known for its radiation resistance), it takes a colossal 180,000 rads to be sure of killing the Habrobracon.[10]

References

  1. ↑ http://bugguide.net/node/view/238510
  2. ↑ http://bugguide.net/node/view/238510
  3. ↑ http://bugguide.net/node/view/238510
  4. ↑ http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?&indexstartGS=95615&taxgroupGS=ichneumonoidea
  5. ↑ http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?&indexstartGS=95591&taxgroupGS=ichneumonoidea
  6. ↑ http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?&indexstartGS=95591&taxgroupGS=ichneumonoidea
  7. ↑ Biological Control of Insects Research by D. Stanley
  8. ↑ USDA Agricultural Research Service ARS, "Bracon Hebetor Biological control agent for stored product pests", Ames Iowa. 1998.
  9. ↑ "Biological Control of Stored-Product Pests" Midwest Biological Control News (University of Wisconsin)
  10. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/02/23/1567313.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience
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