STUDIES ON STRAINS OF TRICHOGRAMMA-EVANESCENS WESTWOOD FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF EURASIA

Strains of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) collected from six different geographical regions in Eurasia were compared in terms of their biological and morphological characteristics and electrophoretic patterns. Significant differences were observed between the strains for biological characteristics such as the proportion of female progeny, developmental period longevity proportion of adults emerging and fecundity. Strains from the Altai region in Russia were more fecund at all hygrothermal conditions in which they were reared (27 degrees C, 80% relative humidity (RH); 27 degrees C, 40% RH; 23 degrees C, 80% RH; and 23 degrees C, 40% RH). Poor adult emergence took place at 27 degrees C and 40% RH in strains from Moldavia and Slovakia. Morphological examination of male antennae showed that strains from Moldavia and Slovakia had the highest ratio of the length of antennal hairs to the maximum width of flagellum. The patterns of esterases after electrophoresis indicated that strains differed in the mobility and intensity of esterase bands. Electrophoretic and morphological relationships among the strains did not correspond with their biological relationships. The possibility of the use of strains from the Altai region in Russia lit biocontrol programmes in southern parts of Europe is discussed.