Parasitism of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 on pupae of Methona themisto (Hubner, [1818]) reared on two hosts (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae; Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Previous studies showed that larvae of Methona themisto (Hubner, [ 1818]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) display a showy yellow color to avoid predation. In addition, these larvae absorb secondary compounds when feeding on Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl) D. Don (Solanaceae) plants, although this does not prevent pupal parasitism by Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The aim of this study was to assess in the laboratory parasitism by P. elaeisis on pupae of M. themisto after their larvae fed on a new host plant, Inga edulis Martius (Fabaceae) (T1) cultivated in the herbarium of the Federal University of Vicosa (UFV) in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil or on plants of B. uniflora (T2) cultivated in the campus of the UFV. The percentage of emergence, developmental time, number of individuals emerged and sex ratio of adults of P. elaeisis and the length and width of the pupae of M. themisto were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). Palmistichus elaeisis showed good reproductive performance when reared on pupae of the host M. themisto independently of larval food.