Effects of different cadmium and lead rates on the egg production and hatchability of adult Pimpla turionellae L. (Hym.,Ichneumonidae).

Abstract

In this study, the effects of heavy metals such as lead-nitrate and cadmium-chloride on the egg production and hatchabilty of the adult females of Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were investigated. In the experiments, in all rates of lead-nitrate, added to diets did not significantly affect the total egg productions and percentages of egg hatch comparing to the control group. However, both total egg productions and their hatchability were significantly decreased by the synthetic diet consisting of 0,50 mg percent and 1,00 mg percent of cadmium-chloride rates. On the contrary 5,00 mg percent of cadmium-chloride concentration increased the egg production and percentage of egg hatch comparing to the control group.Consequently, cadmium-chloride decreased the values of egg productions and percentages of egg hatch more than lead-nitrate.