Comperiella bifasciata Howard

C. bifasciata is a biparental, arrhenotokous parasitoid. It has been commonly recorded from A. aurantii and Chrysomphalus aonidium (Linnaeus).

The production procedure is similar to Aphytis melinus Debach. The 2nd instar nymphs of female scales Aonidiella aurantii are preferred for parasitisation. Male and female scales may also be parasitized in the 1st instar. After exposing the pumpkins with parasitized scale insect is kept back in the cage (45 x 45 x 50 cm). The parasitoid completes its development in about 20 days. The emerging adults are collected and used either for field release or for continuation of the culture. The eggs deposited in the 3rd instar scales and the subsequent development is slower as compared to the most preferred stage and the development period may be extended to double the normal.