Wellinga, S., Laboratory of Experimental Entomology, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Wysoki, M., Dept. of Entomology, State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Israel

The daily survival rate was investigated of Trichogramma platneri Nag. wasps supplied with flowers (both with and without anthers) of avocado cv. Ettinger and cv. Fuerte, anthers of avocado flowers, or flowers of Oxalis cernua, Mercurialis annua and Euphorbia sp. The life span of wasps supplied with anthers or weed flowers was less than 24 hours, whereas it was longer on avocado. However, none of the avocado varieties appeared outstanding in sustaining the wasps. It follows that nectar is the wasp's preferred or only source of food. © 1989 Verlag Paul Parey.