Effect of temperature on the reproductive biology of Antrocephalus hakonensis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a pupal parasitoid of Opisina arenosella Walker, the caterpillar pest of coconut Mohandas T.P.*, Abdurahiman U.S. Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Calicut-673 635, Kerala (India). *Present address: Senior Research Assistant, C.T.R. & T.I., B.S.M. & T.C. Central Silk Board, Madhupur P.O., Deoghar-815 353 (Dt.), Bihar (India). Abstract The mating, oviposition, longevity, progeny production and developmental duration of the pupal parasitoid, Antrocephalus hakonensis (Ashmead) were studied at 25°, 30° and 35°C in a BOD incubator set at 60% R.H. Mating and oviposition activities of this pupal parasitoid of Opisina arenosella, a caterpillar pest of coconut, exhibited the normal rates at 30°C. Shortest development period of 15.6 ± 0.69 days for female was at 35°C; the survival rate of the progeny inside the host at this temperature was only two-fifth of that at 30°C. Adult female survival for more than 60 days was 77.3, 16.7 and 8.6 per cent at 30°, 25° and 35°C, respectively. Progeny production rates were 48, 59 and 36 per cent at 25°, 30° and 35°C, respectively. Progeny sex-ratio was highly male skewed (1:0.41) at 35°C. It appears, therefore, that 30°C is the optimum temperature for mass culture of the parasitoid and for their maximum activity potential. Top |