B. hebetor is a common gregarious ecto – larval parasitoid.  There appears to be two strains of the parasitoid, one attacking field pests and the other stored product pests. Among the hosts recorded are Corcyra cephalanica, Dichocracis punctiferalis,Eublemma olivacea, Hellula undalis, Ostriniaicius kashmirica, Helicoverpa armigera and Opisina arenosella of which the O. arenosella is the important host.  Parasitism is observed throughout the year, it ranged from 26.2 to 26.7% during the peak period of O. arenosella infestation.

Production procedure

• B. hebetor is reared on C. cephalonica at wide ranging temperature and fluctuating relative humidity. 
• Pairs sorted out from freshly emerged brood are caged in specimen tubes (8 x 2.5 cm). Under laboratory conditions it is easy to rear. 
• Fifth instar caterpillars of C. cephalonica of similar size are provided for oviposition and the parasitized larva removed daily from the tubes and maintained separately. 
• The parasitoids are fed with 50% honey provided as tiny droplets on wax-coated paper strips.
• B. hebetor completes its total developmental period in 7-12 days.  The egg, larval and pupal period are completed in 1-2, 2-4 and 3-7 days respectively. 
• The females start laying eggs 2-5 days after emergence on partially paralyzed host caterpillars. 
• The paralyzed larvae (not receiving the eggs) die within 3-5 days.  Female parasitoids feed on host’s haemolymph.
• The eggs are laid singly or in groups of two to eight.  A female is capable of laying 229 eggs (142-345) on 14-32 host caterpillars during its life span of 20-63 days, the daily average being 2-27, and laid maximum number of eggs during the first ten days of oviposition period.
• A single host larva supports the development of 11 eggs and 9 larvae of the parasitoid.  The preoviposition period is 3 days, oviposition period 22-55 days and post oviposition period 1-8 days. 
• The fertile female lives for 20-63 days.  B. hebetor complete its developmental period on larvae of Corcyra cephalonica in 8.6 (7-10) days. 
• Oviposition period lasts for 13 (5-22) days.  The mean fecundity is 72 (13 – 148).  Females live for 24-53 days.  Egg viability is 92% and adult emergence 81%.  Male to female ratio is 5:1.

• To avoid wastage, the surplus parasitoids could be stored in the cocoon stage for one month in the refrigerator. 
• The coccons are kept in a clear plastic jar (19x9 cm) for emergence and provided with raisins as food. 
• Segregate the mite (Pediculoides ventricosus) infested cultures of the host insect immediately.