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Table 1
Pupal Stage
Upon Arrival
Days until Adulthood
(if incubated at room temperature)
Whites 3–4
Black and Whites 2–3
Blacks 1–2
B. Nasonia (continued)
2. Once the Nasonia pupae are exposed, note the stage that they are in. This should be the
stage that the rest of the culture is in. Place the cracked open host containing the Nasonia
pupae back into the culture tube.
Note: The pupae may be at varying stages, so it is important to note the stage that the majority of the
pupae are in for planning purposes. If larvae are present, they will not develop after the host has been
cracked open. If adults are present they can be used immediately for sub-culturing. Assume that these
adults are non-virgins, so do not use them for experiments needing virgins.
3. If you need virgin Nasonia for your experiments, they should be sexed in the pupal stage
(see Section III, Part C: Virgin Isolation and Sex Determination).
4. Adult Nasonia will be needed for culturing, so you will need to incubate the pupae at room
temperature until they become adults. Use the guidelines in table 1 to plan accordingly.
Note: Ideally, while incubating, Nasonia should be exposed to cool, indirect light for 24 hours a day.
Fluorescent light works well. Light that emits too much heat will harm the Nasonia.
Time Consideration: If, at any time, you want to slow down the developmental rate of the pupae to
fit into your schedule, you can place the culture tubes in the refrigerator. A refrigeration temperature of
4°C is ideal.
Figure 6: Cracking Open Host
