Abstract: Anastatus orientalis is an important natural enemy of Lycorma delicatula. In order to explore the optimal method for artificial reproduction of A. orientalis with Antherea pernyi eggs as the substitute host, the effects of host densities and parasitoid wasp densities on the parasitic quantity and offspring female ratio of A. orientalis were analyzed. The results showed that the parasitism ratio of A. orientalis decreased with the increase of host densities. The functional response for parasitism fitted Holling II type, with the daily maximum parasitism amount on A. pernyi was 16.2. The searching effect of parasitoid on host decreased linearly with the increase of host density, when the density of A. pernyi eggs was between 80― 100 per container, the female ratio of the offspring was the highest. The parasitism of adults was strongly affected by intraspecific interference. Under the same conditions, where the host density and parasitism space were constant, the average daily parasitism amount per parasitoid wasp decreased with the increase of its density. The density of parasitoid wasps had significant effect on the female ratio of the offspring. When the parasitoid wasps were two per container, the female ratio of the offspring was the highest. Based on the results of four indexes of functional response, search effect, intraspecific interference effect and female ratio of offspring, it is indicated that A. pernyis eggs could be used as an alternative host for the artificial rearing of A. orientalis, and the suitable host egg ratio should be selected according to the demands of large-scale reproduction. These findings may serve as reference for the mass rearing of the parasitoid and establishment of technical criterions for its artificial rearing.

Key words: Anastatus orientalis, Antherea pernyi, alternative host, functional response, parasitoid-host ratios, artificial rearing