Age Specific Mortality of Liriomyza sativae1 due to Chrysonotomyia formosa2 and Parasitization by Opius dimidiatus3 and Chrysonotomyia formosa

The influence of larval host age on the levels of mortality and parasitization of the vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard, by Chrysonotomyia formosa (Westwood) and Opius dimidiatus (Ashmead) was determined by exposing separately host larvae of 3 ages (24, 72, and 120 h) in bean plant ( Phaseolus sp.) foliage to C. formosa and O. dimidiatus females for 24 h in the greenhouse. Host mortality and parasitization by C. formosa were significantly greater in 120-h-old larvae than in 24, and 72-h-old hosts. Host age and mortality were linearly correlated. Host age did not significantly affect parasitization by O. dimidiatus although higher levels were recorded for the 72-h-old host larvae.