Host preference of Xanthopimpla saussure parasitising Sesamia inferens walker

Host selection sequence of two parasitoids of under the genus Xanthopimpla Saussure viz., Xanthopimpla flavolineata (Xf) Cameron [Xf] and X. stemmator (Thunberg) (Xs) and suitability of various pupal stages of Sesamia inferens as a factitious host for rearing was investigated. There was no significant difference in egg laying between the single and repeated attempts by both Xf and Xs. The probing time of Xf and Xs in the rice stem with concealed host (2.26± 0.10 and 1.60± 0.13 min) and a hollow stem without a host was found to be 1.19± 0.14 and 0.59± 0.15 min, respectively. However, Xs did not parasitize the naked pupa. The number of ovipositor insertions was 1.50± 0.17 in concealed pupae and 0.92± 0.15 in hollow stem without host. Among the stages of S. inferens pupae tested for acceptance by Xf and Xs, the prepupa was preferred the most followed by one- and two-day-old pupa, while five- and six-day-old pupae were not preferred.