The method developed by Wyatt and White (1977) was applied to calculate the intrinsic rates of increase for parasitoids based on 23 fecundity data sets from the literature. The studies showed that there existed the linear relationship between the accurate values of rm and In f (Md) / d or In (A/d/2) / d, that is, 1) rm= 0.845 In (Md) / d or 2) rm= 0.880 In (Md/ 2) / d. Where d is the prereproductive time, Md is the number of female offspring produced per original female from the first to the dthday of reproduction, and Md/2 is the number of female offspring produced per original female from the first to the (d/ 2) th day of reproduction. These equations can provide the accurate estimates of rm for parasitoids in this study. The approach is advantageous because it does not require the construction of detailed fecundity tables for estimating parasitoid rates of increase. Of course, whether these equations are appropriate for the other taxa will need to be further studied.
The use of Beauveria bassiana proparations for control of coffee stem borers, Xylotrechus quardripes Chevr. and Acalolepta cervinus (Hope), as tested in the laboratory and field conditions. The results show that each instar of coffee stem borers could be infected and killed successfully when being inoculated or contacted with B. bassiana . The control efficacy under indoor cultivation conditions exceeded 90% within 15 days. Jamming drilled hole with fungal mud resulted in the accumulative mortality and corrected mortality of >90% within 20 days. In the field, three methods, jamming drilled holes with bamboo sticker, bamboo sticker with fungal mud, and fungal mud only, were employed, and each led to the control effect of > 90% within 20 days. However, spraying suspensions and dusting powder of B. bassiana was insignificant. The yield of fresh coffee fruits in biological control area was 125 7?kg/0 067?ha greater than that of control area when being harvested in February. Compared the cost of microbial control with that of chemical control, B. bassiana proved to be a profitable, effective, and safe biocontrol agent against coffee stem borer.
