A laboratory study was carried out to determine the effects and interactions of temperature, host deprivation and adult feeding on the longevity of the parasitoid Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: lchneumonidae). The effect of body size was also examined. Large wasps (hind tibia length >1.96 mm) lived significantly longer than smaller conspecifics (hind tibia length 1.89 mm). Adults reared at 15[degree]C lived longer regardless of whether supplied with hosts or food. Correspondingly, adults had a shorter life at 30[degree]C. Honey-fed adults lived significantly longer than starved adults at all temperatures and irrespective of host presence, while access to hosts resulted in a decrease in longevity at all temperatures, regardless of rood supply. The Weibull distribution was used to describe the age specific survival, which in V. cancscens is of "Type I", as the risk of death increases with age. Despite the significant effect of host presence on survival it was less than either temperature or feeding. The interactions between feeding, host presence and temperature proved to be significant. The objective of the study was to improve the effectiveness of I canescens as a biological control agent of stored product pests. Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae) : Host Venturia canescens (Ichneumonidae) : Parasite Nutrition; Life cycle and development; Development; Parasites diseases and disorders; Parasites; Insect parasites; Hosts; Insect hosts; Abiotic factors; Physical factors Ephestia kuehniella; Hymenopteran parasites; Parasite longevity related to temperature; host deprivation & adult feeding; Venturia canescens Venturia canescens; Starvation; Host deprivation; Longevity; Lepidopteran hosts; Parasite longevity related to temperature; host deprivation & adult feeding; Ephestia kuehniella; Temperature none