Rejuvenation improves the quality of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared for many generations on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract Background Domestication usually has negative effects on insect performance, especially when they are reared continuously for many generations. Rejuvenation can reduce the of domestication in parasitoid, Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) 30 generations (G) Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Life table and parasitism parameters primary colony (G31–G45) were compared with respective rejuvenated field-collected individuals. Results There significant differences life history traits between domesticated populations. The highest (38.4 eggs/female) lowest (13.3 fecundity was observed G31 G45, respectively. values without difference G32, G33 G34. relationship finite rate ( ω ) generation number both populations fitted to cubic regression model, indicating potential T. increased significantly after adding feral individuals but decreased remarkably over Conclusions Therefore, it seems that 10% re-established reproductive performance wasps at least four generations, needs be repeated routinely or made by a higher However, this issue should investigated more studies which different rates added colony.