DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtf4
title: Assessment of <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> pupae killed by heat as hosts for rearing <em>Trichopria drosophilae</em>

description: Trichopria drosophilae is a globally distributed pupal parasitoid that
 targets various species within the Drosophilidae family, including the
 invasive Drosophila suzukii. The mass rearing of T. drosophilae is a
 critical step in ensuring their successful application for field D.
 suzukii control. The pupae of D. melanogaster are currently used as a host
 for the mass rearing of T. drosophilae. After thermal treatment, the
 period during which pupae remain suitable for parasitism is extended,
 resulting in increased parasitism efficiency of the parasitoids. However,
 there have been no reports to date on the parasitism of heat–killed D.
 melanogaster pupae by T. drosophilae, and the effects of continuous
 rearing on heat-killed pupae on T. drosophilae remain unknown. To evaluate
 the utilization efficiency of heat–killed Drosophila pupae by T.
 drosophilae, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of key biological
 indicators across the F1, F2, and F3 generations. These included adult
 longevity, parasitism rate, female offspring production, changes in
 offspring sex ratio with maternal age, and population life table
 parameters. Our results showed that T. drosophilae can be continuously
 reared for multiple generations on heat–killed D. melanogaster pupae.
 Moreover, the T. drosophilae exhibits an adaptive response to heat–killed
 hosts, with population parameters declining in the F2 generation and
 recovering in the F3 generation. Using heat–killed pupae provides an
 efficient and economically viable method for the mass rearing of T.
 drosophilae, and offers valuable insights into its potential effectiveness
 in the field control of D. suzukii.
description: # Assessment of *Drosophila melanogaster* pupae killed by heat as hosts
 for rearing *Trichopria drosophilae* Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtf4](10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtf4) ## Description of the
 data and file structure The file *F0_data.xlsx* contains the number of
 emerged offspring from the F0 generation in both the live group and the
 heat-killed group. The file *F1_life_table.xlsx* contains the population
 life table parameters of the F1 generation for both the live group and the
 heat-killed group. The file *F2_life_table.xlsx* contains the population
 life table parameters of the F1 generation for both the live group and the
 heat-killed group. The file *F3_life_table.xlsx* contains the population
 life table parameters of the F1 generation for both the live group and the
 heat-killed group. ### Files and variables #### **Basic Parameters** *
 **x**: Age (days). * **lxf**: Survivorship of females at age *x* (%). *
 **lxm**: Survivorship of males at age *x* (%). * **mxf**: Age-specific
 fecundity of females at age *x* (individuals). * **mxm**: Age-specific
 fecundity of males at age *x* (individuals). * **Mx**:  age-specific mean
 number of offspring produced per individual at age x (individuals).
 **Mortality and Survival Rates** * **dxf**: Age-specific mortality of
 females (%). * **dxm**: Age-specific mortality of males (%). * **pxf**:
 Probability of female survival from age *x* to *x+1* (%). * **pxm**:
 Probability of male survival from age *x* to *x+1* (%). * **qxf**:
 Probability of female death from age *x* to *x+1* (%). * **qxm**:
 Probability of male death from age *x* to *x+1* (%). **Life Expectancy
 Calculation** * **Lxf**: Average number of surviving females at age *x*
 (individuals). * **Lxm**: Average number of surviving males at age *x*
 (individuals). * **Txf**: Total time lived by all females beyond age *x*
 (days). * **Txm**: Total time lived by all males beyond age *x* (days). *
 **exf**: Life expectancy of females at age *x* (days). * **exm**: Life
 expectancy of males at age *x* (days). **Reproductive Value Calculation**
 * **Lxf * mxf**: Reproductive value of females at age *x* (dimensionless).
 * **x * lxf * mxf**: Age-weighted reproductive output of
 females (dimensionless). * **lxf * mxf**: Age-specific reproductive
 contribution of females (dimensionless). **Overall Life Table Parameters**
 * **T**: Generation time (days). * **R0**: Net reproductive
 rate (dimensionless). * **r**: Intrinsic rate of increase (dimensionless).
 * **EXP(-rm*x) * mxf * Lxf**: Equation for calculating intrinsic rate of
 increase (dimensionless). * **rm**: Numerical value of intrinsic rate of
 increase (dimensionless). * **DT**: Doubling time of the
 population (days). * **λ**: Finite rate of increase (dimensionless). ####
 NOTE: Grey shading in each tab indicates empty cells. ## Code/software It
 is recommended to open the file using Microsoft Office Excel for the best
 compatibility and functionality.