Effects of sugar sources on adult longevity, survival and related gene expression in an endoparasitoid, Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).

We elaborated the quantitative effects of two sugar sources (sucrose and honey) on P. puparum lifespan, investigated the expression patterns of lifespan-related genes when fed different sugar sources, and developed round lifespan prediction models accordingly. This study provides a novel tool for studying the longevity regulating mechanisms of parasitic wasps, and may be instructive for mass-production of parasitoids as biological control agents. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.