Avaliação do controle de qualidade de trichogramma pretiosum (hymenoptera: trichogrammatidae) utilizado no controle biológico de pragas em cultivos agrícolas.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate biological parameters used in the quality control of Trichogramma pretiosum, a parasitoid widely employed in biological pest control programs. The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions using Ephestia kuehniella eggs as an alternative host. The evaluated parameters included parasitism rate, emergence rate, sex ratio, female longevity, and adult flight capacity. Parasitism ranged from 22 to 65 eggs per female within 24 hours, corresponding to parasitism percentages between 9.52% and 28.09%. Female longevity varied from 9 to 12 days. Emergence rates showed broad variation among experimental units, ranging from 36.9% to 100%. The mean sex ratio was 0.67 ± 0.03, indicating a predominance of females, which is desirable for biological control programs. Flight capacity exhibited excellent performance, with 98.9% and 99.35% flying adults in the two replicates evaluated, surpassing the minimum recommended quality standards. The results indicate satisfactory performance in several evaluated parameters, particularly sex ratio, longevity, and flight capacity, although parasitism and emergence showed considerable variability among units. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of T. pretiosum quality in biofactories and laboratory systems.