Survival of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes in a new biodegradable package developed for its commercialization, transport, and release into the field

Since 1976, in Brazil, the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has been used as a biological control agent of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricus) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The process of releasing the insect results in at least 12 million plastic packages left in the environment each year. To manage this issue, the present study developed a fully biodegradable box-shaped packaging that allows the release of these biological agents without concern for introducing waste into the environment. Furthermore, the survival of five generations of C. flavipes was compared between the biodegradable packaging developed in this study and plastic cups (the packaging that is currently used to transport the parasitoids), and biodegradable cups (used only when biodegradable packaging is necessary). Further, we estimated the cost involved for each type of packaging. Females and males of C. flavipes survived for an average of 38.4 h and 32.6 h, respectively. In the F4 generation, females showed higher survival rate when placed in biodegradable cups and boxes, and after 40 h, 90% and 40% of the females were still alive, whereas all individuals in the plastic cups had died. In the F2 and F5 generations, the survival of males and females was similar among the tested packages. The cost of each plastic cup was $0.02, that of the biodegradable cup was $0.07, and the biodegradable box was $0.04. Thus, the results obtained in the present study indicate that the new fully biodegradable packaging effectively facilitates in the release of the parasitoid in the field, entails a lower cost, and does not harm the environment.