Stomatomyia bezziana Baronov

Stomatomyia bezziana is a common parasitoid of Opisina arenosella in the east coast of Sri Lanka. It has been introduced into India and its releases made in west coast, Kerala and Bangalore, Karnataka.

The puparia obtained from parasitised Opisina arenosella are placed on moist moss in plastic containers inside the adult emergence cages (0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 m) with three sides and top fitted with cloth, with a wooden or aluminium base and glass front. Freshly emerged females are paired with 1-2 day old males in cages similar to emergence cage. The cages containing males and females are kept in sunlight and vigorously shaken to induce mating. After 2 days of pre-oviposition period the females are shifted to oviposition cages. Full grown larvae of Opisina arenosella or Corcyra cephalonica are provided for oviposition (some centres prefer to provide larvae parasitised by Bracon hebetor. This method of offering the host appears to be more appropriate). Adults are provided with honey mixed with protein hydrolysate of yeast as food on cotton swabs. The larvae after parasitisation are removed and replaced by another lot. The female lives for 17 days and lay 61 eggs on an average (25-127 eggs). Normally 2 or 3 eggs are laid on each host larva but eventually one or two parasitoids successfully develop into adults. The females are capable of locating host in their galleries. The larval period lasts 4-5 days and the adults from puparia emerge in about 9 days (8-12 days). The sex ratio is balanced, but sometimes more males are produced.

The parasitoid could also be multiplied on sugarcane borers, as well as Chilo partellus and Sylepte derogata.