We describe a method for the rearing of the oligophagous herbivore Hadena bicruris, and its gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid Microplitis tristis under laboratory conditions. With flowers from the host food plant Silene latifolia available, female moths lay on average 414 eggs during their lifetime, starting at day 3 after eggression and with a peak number per night on day 8. Caterpillars can be reared with 56 % survival on an artificial diet. Individually mated parasitoids successfully parasitised individually presented L4 caterpillars. Clutch size of the reared parasitoids (13.4) is lower than clutch sizes found in natural populations (17.7). Age of the females might be an important factor influencing clutch size. Diapause is differently induced in the host and in the parasitoid. Under long day conditions low night temperature induces diapause in hosts but not in parasitoids. Under short day conditions both species enter diapause at low night temperature. Techniques; Care in captivity; Biometrics; Reproduction; Reproductive productivity; Life cycle and development; Development; Parasites diseases and disorders; Parasites; Insect parasites; Hosts; Insect hosts; Abiotic factors; Physical factors; Light Hadena bicruris (Noctuidae); Rearing techniques; Diapause; Hymenopteran parasites; Microplitis tristis; Rearing techniques for parasite & host & aspects of host & parasite biology; Photoperiod; Day length; Temperature Microplitis tristis (Braconidae); Rearing techniques; Age; Egg number; Clutch size; Diapause; Lepidopteran hosts; Hadena bicruris; Rearing techniques for parasite & host & aspects of parasite biology; Photoperiod; Day length; Temperature none