A Comparison of Procedures for Marking Adult Endoparasitic Wasps with P32

Abstract

Two methods of labeling adults of Phanerotoma flavitestacea Fischer (Hymenoptera Braconidae) with P32 have been compared. Freshly emerged adult parasites fed on honey mixed with P32 acquired radioactivity that was detectable up to 36 days. Longevity was not seriously affected. Although ingested radiophosphorus was lost mostly through excretion, some was lost through oviposition. Host eggs parasitized by marked female parasites showed detectable levels of radioactivity. Marking adults by rearing them in hosts feeding on radioactive food is not a satisfactory technique with Phanerotoma. The higher concentrations of P32 in the host food adversely affected emergence of the adult parasites, while at the lower concentrations the emerging adults showed only very low levels of radioactivity.