Oviposition and developmental performances of the gregarious hyperparasitoid Cheiloneurus nankingensis in relation to host age

•Cheiloneurus nankingensis is an obligate gregarious hyperparasitoid native to China and attacks non-native parasitoid Aenasius arizonensis developing in invaded mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis.•Hyperparasitism success to production of offspring adults had a dome-shaped curve with host age at hyperparasitism; the realized brood size increased to the plateau when attacking around 5-day old hosts and then gradually declined with older hosts.•Middle and old aged larval hosts are susceptible to hyperparasitism and middle aged ones are optimal in quality.