author(s)
Aruna Ambadahalli Siddaiah and Manjunath Danagoudra

abstract
Nesolynx thymus Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an endo-pupal, gregarious parasitoid of the uzifly, Exorista bombycis, a major endo-larval parasitoid of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Saturnidae). The estimated loss due to E. bombycis is to the tune of 40-45%. Owing to possession of desirable attributes of a biocontrol agent viz., short life cycle, amenability to mass production under laboratory conditions, high parasitisation potential, efficient host searching ability, good adoptability to survive under field conditions, ability to synchronize its life cycle with that of host, N. thymus has been recommended as a biocontrol agent of E. bombycis apart from including in IPM programme. Some of the biological aspects and mass production of the parasitoids have been studied so far. No reports are available on the oviposition behaviour of the parasitoid. The present study was conducted to study the oviposition behaviour of N. thymus. When parasitoid was allowed to parasitize the host pupa, it exhibited a series of distinct behavioural responses that culminated in oviposition. These responses included host recognition, drumming, tapping, drilling and oviposition.