Cotesia plutellae Kurdjamov

Cotesia plutellae is most widely distributed solitary endo-parasitoid of Plutella xylostella. It is found both in the hills and plains. But it is better adapted to warmer plain areas. In certain areas if it is properly conserved it exerts very good impact on Plutella xylostella and has in fact demonstrated the ability to suppress the population of P.xylostella.

Two hundred cocoons of Cotesia plutellae are placed in a petriplate which is kept in a cage. For adult feeding a rectangular polyethylene sheet is hung at the rare end of the cage 40x40x40 cms and it is sprayed with 10% honey solution. The emerging adults mate and complete the pre-oviposition period within 24 hours. Mustard seedlings containing 2nd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella are exposed to the adults for 24 hrs and then kept back to permit the development of the parasitoid. The parasitoids are again provided with a fresh batch of 2nd instar larvae and this process continues for a week. After which the fresh batch of adults are released in the cages and the production process continues. The egg + larvae of the parasitoid complete development in 7 to 8 days, which includes 24 hrs of egg stage. The parasitoid comes out of the final instar larvae and pupates. The cocoons are collected from the seedlings and placed @ 200/petriplate in the parasitoid emergence cage as described in the beginning. The adults emerge in 3-5 days and the production process is continued. Each female parasitizes about 100-150 larvae in its life time. Recently it has been demonstrated that if cabbage seedlings are used in place of mustard seedlings the frequency of handling is reduced so also the mortality is diminished.

The parasitoid could also be reared on Corcyra cephalonica Stainton and Cadra cautella(Walker) larvae in case of emergencies.