Effects of Temperature and Moisture on Survival of Parasites in Stored Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
Keyword(s):
Cocoons of winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), reared from larvae collected in Europe, were imported to obtain insect parasites for release in Canada. Normally the sequence of handling the host cocoons consisted of: summer storage (July to October); autumn storage (October to December) during which host emergence occurred; winter storage (January to May); and, finally, a period of incubation (May to June) to obtain in time for release against the larval stage of the host.