Materials and Methods

This chapter presents the step by step methods followed in the

conduct o f this study.
Collection of the Experimental Insects
Earwigs will be collected from different crops known to be infected by
insect pests that are considered as preys of the parasitoids. One of the preys
of earwigs is the pests of banana where they are found abundant.
Pre-Experimental Insects
To obtain uniform age and size of experimental insects, preexperimental rearing will be done. Collected earwigs will be reared in a
container (a glass container with the dimension of 25.7 x 40.7 x 20.2 cm).
Earwigs will be sexed and will be reared for a period of 1-2 weeks. On the
third week, young earwigs will be sexed and will be transferred to
experimental containers. Instead of using corn cobs, saw dust will be used as
their habitat where they could hide during the day that will also serve as an
ovipositor site for their eggs and dog food will be fed during the preexperimental period. The saw dust will have a thickness of at least 3-5 cm
and will be moistened just enough to provide cool temperature for the
insects.
Experimental Containers

Soft drinks plastic bottles with a capacity of 1.5 liters will be used as
the rearing container. Empty bottles will be provided with an opening by
cutting 4 x 6 cm along the side as shown in Figure 1.

Fig. I. The sketch of an experimental container

Sexing of Earwig Parasitoids
Female parasitoids will be sorted from the male. This will be done by
means visual identification based on the morphological features of earwigs.
The cercus located at the tip of the abdomen determines the sex of the
insect.
Experimental Treatments
As used in the pre-experimental activity, saw dust will be used as
habitat of the insects and the artificial diets will be various animal feeds that
are readily available in the market.
The following treatments will be used in the experiment:
Treatment 1 Dog Food (control)

Treatment 2 Broiler Starter Feeds

Treatment 3 Broiler Finisher Feeds
Treatment 4 Swine Starter Mash
Treatment 5 Swine Grower Mash
Treatment 6 Swine Finisher Mash
Experimental Design
The research will be conducted indoor and the same experimental and
the same experimental condition will be observed in all the treatments. And
since this study is experimental, Complete Random Design (CRD) will be
used. Random sampling procedure in the designation of treatments (draw
lots) will be observed. Below is the experimental lay-out of the study with six
treatments and three replications.

T1R1

T2R1

T3R1

T4R1

T5R1

T6R1

T1R2

T2R2

T3R2

T4R2

T5R2

T6R2

T1R3

T 12R3

T3R3

T4R3

T5R3

T6R3

Fig. 2 Experimental lay-out of the study

Placing of Earwigs to the experimental container and the amount

and schedule of feeding
Two males and 10 adult females will be initially released in each
container. Artificial diets will be provided with 20 grams of each artificial diet
for the first day and subsequent feeding will be done after every 10 days
with the same amount of diet.

Data Gathering
The following data will be gathered and recorded for experimental
analysis.

Average number of earwigs per treatment. The average number

of earwigs per treatment during the first two weeks up to the fourth weeks
of rearing will be gathered. This include only the earwigs produced by the
parent earwigs (parent earwigs are not included)
Average weight of adult earwig per treatment. The weight (g) of
adult earwig per treatment will be taken using a digital weighing balance
with calibration of 0.1 gram

Average number of male and female earwigs per treatment. All

produced earwigs will be sexed and the number of male and female insects
will be gathered in each treatment.
Average size of earwigs per treatment. The average size (cm) of
earwigs will be measured from the tip of head to the tip of the cerci.

Statistical treatment and analysis of data

The data to be gathered will be subjected to statistical treatment using
the analysis of variance for single factor experiment in a Complete
Randomized Design (CRD). Comparison and treatment means will be done
following the Duncans Multiple Range Test (DMRT).