Reproduction, biological cycle and sex relation of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem in Cuban laboratory conditions

Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari has become the principal plague of coffee in Central America and other parts of the world. The programs of classic biological control against the drill of the coffee have been sustained in the import of specific parasitoids. The introduction of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Bretem (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Cuba, was realized from Mexico to the National Center of Phytosanitary Reference for the Mountain in Buey Arriba, province of Granma, as a new option in integrated management of coffee berry borer. This paper shows the results of the reproduction process, life cycle and sexual relationship of Cephalonomia stephanoderis evaluated in laboratory conditions. Productions obtained were quantified by month, generation and year; temperature and relative humidity were measured. Duration of biological cycle and sex proportion was determined. Data of biological cycle duration, temperature, relative humidity (RH) and sex proportion were analyzed statistically, middle duration of biological cycle was 22.9 days under temperature of 25.5[degree]C and RH of 78.5%; minimum duration of biological cycle was 18 days at 26,8[degree]C and the maxim was 32 days at 24.6[degree]C and RH of 76.6 and 76.5% respectively. The sexual proportion was between 2.2 and 14.6 with a middle of 9.6 females for each male insect, in correspondence with biological cycle duration of 18, 32 and 22.9 days, respectively.