Seasonal abundance of the parasitoid complex associated with the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Hangzhou, China

An investigation of insect parasitoids of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), in brassica vegetable crops in the suburbs of Hangzhou was conducted during five periods from 1989 to 1997. Eight species of primary parasitoids were recorded: Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov, Microplitis sp., Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov, Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst), Itoplectis naranyae (Ashmead), Exochus sp. and Brachymeria excarinata Gahan. Seven species of hyperparasitoids were also collected. Rates of parasitism of eggs of P. xylostella were usually very low. However, rates of parasitism of larvae and pupae were substantial and showed two peaks each year, around June-July and September-November respectively. Rates of parasitism during peaks were usually 10-60% and reached over 80% on a few occasions. Cotesia plutellae, O. sokolowskii and D. collaris were the major larval, larval-pupal and pupal parasitoids respectively. In the field, C. plutellae was active throughout the year. Oomyzus sokolowskii was active from May to October, entered a quiescent pupal stage in October-November to overwinter and did not emerge until next April-May. Diadromus collaris was recorded from April to July and October. Rates of parasitism of P. xylostella in radish and mustard fields were usually higher than those in cabbage and Chinese cabbage fields in the same locality. Negative correlations of parasitism rates between C. plutellae and O. sokolowskii indicate a competitive relationship for host larvae between these two larval parasitoids.     

颈双缘姬蜂寄生引起小菜蛾蛹脂肪体形态和超微结构的变化

采用光学和电子显微镜观察了颈双缘姬蜂Diadromus collaris（膜翅目： 姬蜂科）寄生后小菜蛾Plutella xylostella（鳞翅目：菜蛾科）蛹脂肪体形态、超微结构和脂肪细胞的变化。结果表明： 被寄生72 h后小菜蛾蛹脂肪体结构松散,细胞游离,细胞膜破裂;细胞内营养物质开始被动地消耗;细胞器数量减少,细胞核内染色质状态发生变化。这些现象说明寄生对寄主的脂肪体结构及脂肪细胞产生了明显的影响,这有利于为幼蜂的发育提供营养。     

Conflicts between a fungal entomopathogen, Zoophthora radicans, and two larval parasitoids of the diamondback moth

Zoophthora radicans (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales), Diadegma semiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are all natural enemies of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae). Adult C. plutellae are not susceptible to Z. radicans infection but the pathogen can infect and kill adult D. semiclausum. Infection of adult D. semiclausum prior to exposure to P. xylostella host larvae significantly reduced the number of parasitoid cocoons subsequently developing from the host larvae. Although Z. radicans infection of P. xylostella larvae prior to parasitism by D. semiclausum or C. plutellae always resulted in the death of the immature parasitoids, neither species discriminated between healthy and Z. radicans-infected host larvae in an oviposition choice experiment. However, host larvae recently killed by Z. radicans were always rejected by D. semiclausum but sometimes accepted by C. plutellae. At 20 degrees C, egg to pupa development took 6.7 and 7.8 days for D. semiclausum and C. plutellae, respectively. C. plutellae parasitism significantly increased host instar duration but D. semiclausum parasitism did not. Cadavers of P. xylostella larvae parasitized 1 day prior to fungal infection showed no reduction in Z. radicans conidia yield. However, cadavers of larvae parasitized 3 days prior to fungal infection demonstrated a marked decrease in Z. radicans conidia yield. Z. radicans infection of P. xylostella larvae < or = 4 days after parasitism resulted in 100% parasitoid mortality; thereafter, the reduction in parasitoid cocoon yield decreased as the time between parasitism and initiation of fungal infection increased. The extended duration of the host larval stage induced by C. plutellae parasitism increased the availability of the parasitoid to the pathogen. Estimates of interspecific competition indicated a similar pattern for the interaction between Z. radicans and each species of parasitoid.     

First observations on the parasitoids associated with lepidopterous pests of cotton in Burkina faso

A study was conducted in Burkina Faso from 1991 to 1994 on the parasitoids associated with the following lepidopterous pests of cotton:Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner),Earias spp.,Diparopsis watersi (Rothschild),Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval),Syllepte derogata (F.) andAnomis flava (F.). Thirty-nine primary parasitoid species and ten secondary parasitoid species were collected. The mean annual parasitism rates were lower than 20%, except forS. derogata pupae (42.9%). Maximum weekly parasitism rates could be high, with 61.5% recorded forS. derogata pupae and 32.9% forH. armigera larvae. The highest parasitism rates were found forMeteorus laphygmarum Brues (Braconidae) onH. armigera, Xanthopimpla aliena Krieger (Ichneumonidae),Brachymeria olethria (Waterston) andB. citrea (Steffan) (Chalcididae) onS. derogata, Aleiodes dedivus (Szépligeti),Dolichogenidea sp. (Braconidae) andBrachymeria feae Masi onEarias spp., an unidentified Tachinidae onA. flava andMetopius discolor Tosquinet (Ichneumonidae) onS. littoralis. Secondary parasitoids are mainly associated withApanteles spp. (Braconidae) which parasitizeS. derogata larvae. Some species of these secondary parasitoids such asNesolynx phaeosoma (Waterston),Pedobius amaurocoelus (Waterston) (Eulophidae) andAphanogmus fijiensis (Ferrière) (Ceraphronidae) may also attack certain Braconidae or Chalcididae that are primary parasitoids of other lepidopterous pests.     

闭弯尾姬蜂与菜蛾盘绒茧蜂寄生菜蛾幼虫时的种间竞争

在室内25℃下,以菜蛾3龄初幼虫作寄主,研究了菜蛾盘绒茧蜂Cotesia plutellae和半闭弯尾姬蜂Diadegma semiclausum的种间竞争。当寄主供2种蜂同时产卵寄生时,2种蜂各自的寄生率与其单独寄生时无显著差异,合计寄生率比一种蜂单独存在时有所提高,但差异不显著。2种蜂均能产卵寄生已被另一种蜂寄生了的寄主幼虫。当寄主被2种蜂寄生的间隔时间很短（少于10 h）时,所育出的蜂绝大部分（80%以上）为绒茧蜂;当寄主先被绒茧蜂寄生,并饲养2天以上再供弯尾姬蜂寄生时,所育出的全为绒茧蜂;当寄主先被弯尾姬蜂寄生,并饲养2天以上再供绒茧蜂寄生时,寄主幼虫绝大部分不能存活,只有少部分能育出寄生蜂,且多为弯尾姬蜂。当2种蜂的幼虫存在于同一寄主体内时,2种蜂的发育均受到另一种蜂的抑制;绒茧蜂1龄幼虫具有物理攻击能力,能将弯尾姬蜂卵或幼虫致死。这些结果表明,菜蛾盘绒茧蜂与半闭弯尾姬蜂在同一寄主中发育时,前者具有明显的竞争优势。     

Interspecific competition between Diadegma semiclausum Hellen (Hym., Ichneumonidae) and Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hym., Braconidae) in parasitizing Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidea)

Abstract:  Interspecific competition between Diadegma semiclausum and Cotesia plutellae was investigated at 25°C in the laboratory, by exposing the third instar larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella to both species together, either species alone or by exposing the host larvae already parasitized by one species, at different intervals, to the other. When host larvae were exposed simultaneously to two species in one arena, parasitism rates of the host by each species were not reduced by the presence of the other species; joint parasitism rate by two species was not significantly higher than that by either parasitoid alone. Both parasitoids could lay eggs into the host larvae which had previously been parasitized by the other species, leading to the occurrence of multiparasitized hosts. When host larvae were parasitized first by D. semiclausum and then being followed within 1–2 h by exposing to C. plutellae , or vice versa, ensuing parasitoid cocoons from the multiparasitized host larvae were nearly all C. plutellae . When host larvae were parasitized initially by C. plutellae and then being followed by D. semiclausum two or more days later, all parasitoids ensued from the multiparasitized hosts were C. plutellae . In contrast, when host larvae were parasitized initially by D. semiclausum and then being followed by C. plutellae two or more days later, most host larvae could not survive to prepupae and most of the ensuing parasitoid adults from the surviving hosts were D. semiclausum . Dissections of host larvae at various time intervals after parasitization by the two parasitoids showed that development of both parasitoids in multiparasitized hosts were somewhat arrested, and that the first instar larvae of C. plutellae could initiate a physical attack on the larvae of D. semiclausum and remove the latter.     

Parasitoids ofPlutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae) in South Africa: An annotated list

Larvae and pupae of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), were collected weekly for two years on unsprayed cabbage plots. Samples were taken to the laboratory and parasitoids that emerged were identified and their incidence determined. Parasitoids were active throughout the year and parasitism was high (reaching 90–100%) except in the winter months of June–August when it was low. Twenty one species were reared: the egg-larval parasitoidsChelonus curvimaculatus Cameron and Chelonus sp. (Braconidae); the larval parasitoidsApanteles eriophyes Nixon,Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov),Habrobracon brevicornis (Wesmael) (Braconidae) andPeribaea sp. (Tachinidae); the larvalpupal parasitoidsDiadegma sp.,Itoplectis sp. (Ichneumonidae) andOomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Eulophidae); the pupal parasitoidsBrachymeria sp.,Hockeria sp. (Chalcididae),Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Ichneumonidae) andTetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Eulophidae); and the hyperparasitoidsAphanogmus fijiensis (Ferrière) (Ceraphronidae),Brachymeria sp.,Hockeria sp.Proconura sp. (Chalcididae),Mesochorus sp. (Ichneumonidae),Pteromalus sp. (Pteromalidae),Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae) andTetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae).     

Parasitoid complex of the bird cherry ermine moth Yponomeuta evonymellus in Korea

The parasitoid complex of Yponomeuta evonymellus L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), the bird cherry ermine moth (BCEM), was sought in South Korea with the goal of identifying its potential biological controls. Thirteen primary and two secondary parasitoids were found. Diadegma armillatum (Grav.), Herpestomus brunnicornis Grav. (Icheumonidae), and Zenillia dolosa (Meigen) (Tachinidae) were the most important parasitoids causing 3.5%, 7.1%, and 7.7% of the combined parasitism of the host larvae and pupae, respectively. The composition of parasitoid species was more diverse in larvae than in pupae; 10 species were reared from larvae, compared to six from pupae. The parasitoid complex contributed to the relatively low mortality levels of Yponomeuta evonymellus with the combined total rate of parasitism of 29.6% for the host larvae and pupae. This level is below that found in some European populations (50%) and is not greater than the larval rate of parasitism (31%) found in the congeneric apple ermine moth in Korea. This low rate of parasitism is partly attributed to the parasitism by Ageniaspis fuscicollis (1%) detected in Yponomeuta evonymellus, which is similar to that detected in Yponomeuta evonymellus in European reports. This is the first report of the parasitoid complex attacking the BCEM in Korea.     

Non-host plant extracts reduce oviposition of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and enhance parasitism by its parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Botanical preparations, usually from non-host plants, can be used to manipulate the behaviour of insect pests and their natural enemies. In this study, the effects of extracts of Chrysanthemum morifolium, a non-host plant of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), on the olfactory and oviposition responses of this phytophagous insect and on levels of parasitism by its specialist parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) were examined, using Chinese cabbage Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis as the test host plant. Olfactometer tests showed that volatiles of chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants were less attractive to P. xylostella females than those from untreated host plants; and in contrast, volatiles of the chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants were more attractive to females of its parasitoid C. plutellae than those from untreated host plants. Oviposition preference tests showed that P. xylostella females laid only a small proportion of their eggs on chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants, while ovipositing parasitoid females parasitized a much higher proportion of host larvae feeding on the treated host plants than on untreated host plants. These results suggest that certain non-host plant compounds, when applied onto a host plant, may render the plant less attractive to a phytophagous insect but more attractive to its parasitoids. Application of such non-host plant compounds can be explored to develop push-pull systems to reduce oviposition by a pest insect and at the same time enhance parasitism by its parasitoids in crops.     

Seasonal phenology and stage-specific parasitism of the apple ermine moth, Yponomeuta malinellus Zeller, in Korea

The apple ermine moth, Yponomeuta malinellus Zeller (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), is a tent caterpillar that feeds on Malus spp. in Korea. Populations of the moth in native areas appeared to be regulated by the assemblage of parasitoids. Phenological associations between host stages and parasitoids, susceptible stage(s) of the host for each parasitoid, and stage‐specific parasitism were studied. The egg larval parasitoid Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman) had highest parasitism of first instar larvae (24%), with 14% parasitism of other larval stages. Dolichogenidea delecta (Haliday) was recovered from all larval instars with the highest parasitism rate of second instar larvae (20.1%), followed by 19.9% parasitism of mid‐larval hosts. Herpestomus brunicornis Gravenhorst was reared from second instar larvae through to pupal collection, and had the highest parasitism rate (29.9%) at the pupal stage. The larval pupal parasitoid Zenillia dolosa (Meigen) was recovered from mid‐larval to pupal stages with the highest parasitism rate (5.5%) occurring in third to fourth instar larvae. The host stages for developing A. fuscicollis completely overlap with those of D. delecta, and with those of H. brunicornis to some degree. A statistically significant negative correlation exists between A. fuscicollis and these dominant parasitoids, indicating competitive interaction within the host.     

小菜蛾主要寄生性天敌——菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互作用

在28℃下,以小菜蛾3龄幼虫作寄主,研究了菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互关系．当寄主供2种蜂同时产卵寄生时,与只供1种蜂时相比。绒茧蜂的寄生率无显著变化,而啮小蜂的寄生率则显著下降;2种蜂的合计寄生率与任一种蜂单独存在时相比无显著差异．当寄主先供绒茧蜂寄生,再供啮小蜂寄生时,绒茧蜂的成功寄生率不受影响,而啮小蜂的寄生率仅为8％～13％;啮小蜂能寄生在寄主体内的绒茧蜂高龄幼虫．绒茧蜂能寄生已被啮小蜂寄生的寄主幼虫,其子代部分个体能正常发育至成虫羽化．当已被绒茧蜂寄生和未被寄生的寄主同时存在时,啮小蜂主要寄生未被寄生的寄主．表明绒茧蜂具有竞争优势。但这种优势可因啮小蜂的寄生而被削弱．     

Effects of host stages and temperature on population parameters of Oomyzus sokolowskii, a larval-pupal parasitoid of Plutella xylostella

Oomyzus sokolowskii is alarval-pupal parasitoid of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. In a host stage preference test, the parasitoid parasitised all larval and pupal stages, but exhibited a strong preference for larvaeover prepupae or pupae, and did not show a preference among the larval instars. At 25°C, the developmental time, number and sex ratio of offspring per host pupa, and successful parasitism did not differ significantly among parasitoids reared from host larvae of different instars, indicating similar host suitability between larvae of different instars. Mean developmental times from egg to adult at 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 32.5, and 35°C were 26.5,21.0, 16.0, 12.7, 11.9 and 13.4 days, respectively. The favourable temperature range for development, survival, and reproduction of the parasitoid was 20--30°C. However, wasps that developed and emerged at a favourable temperature could parasitise effectively at 32--35°C for 24 hours. Life-fertility table studies at 20, 25, and 30°C showed that each female wasp on average parasitised 3.1, 13.2, 6.8 larvae of diamondback moth and produced 20.5, 92.1, 50.4 offspring, respectively, during her lifetime. The highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) of 0.263 female/day was reached at 30°C as a result of the short mean generation time at this temperature compared to that at 20 and 25°C, suggesting that the parasitoid had the highest potential for population growth at relatively high temperatures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Parasitoids of the corn borerOstrinia furnacalis [Lep.: Pyralidae] in the Mariana Islands

A survey of the parasitoids of the Asian corn borer,Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee), in the Mariana Islands showed that few of the borers were parasitized. Parasitoids were reared from only 30 pupae out of more than 4 500 sampled. Three species of pupal parasitoids were found:Xanthopimpla punctata (F.),Brachymeria albotibialis (Ashmead) andTetrastichus? inferens Yoshimoto. No parasitoids were reared from mature larvae. The only egg parasitoid observed wasTrichogramma chilonis Ishii. During the month prior to the sweet corn harvest, which was the peak period of moth oviposition, about 40% of the egg masses had at least one egg parasitized. An average of about 35% of the eggs within a mass were parasitized.     

Effects of host age on the performance of >Diadromus collaris, a pupal parasitoid of >Plutella xylostella

The ichneumonid >Diadromus collaris(Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is amajor solitary, pupal endoparasitoid of thediamondback moth, >Plutella xylostella(Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).Experiments to examine parasitism of the hostpupae of different ages by the parasitoid wereconducted in the laboratory. >Diadromuscollaris preferred host pupae that were in thefirst half of their pupal development. Survivalfrom larva to adult, and size and parasitizingcapacity of the resultant female adultsdecreased dramatically as host pupal ageincreased. When ovipositions were made intohost pupae that were in the last quarter oftheir development, all parasitoids died beforeadult emergence. The performance of >D.collaris, as affected by host pupal age,agrees with the simple diet theory thatpredicts female wasps should select hosts ofhigher nutritional quality for oviposition.     

Effects of selected insecticides on Diadegma semiclausum（Hymenoptera： Ichneumonidae） and Oomyzus sokolowskii （Hymenoptera： Eulophidae）, parasitoids of Plutella xylostella （Lepidoptera： Plutellidae）

Abstract Field doses of six selected insecticides were tested against the immature (pupae) and mature (adult) stages of Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén) and Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov), parasitoids of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Effects of contact toxicity (direct spraying) of the six insecticides on emergence of parasitoids were found negligible on both species except permethrin which caused 37.5% mortality. All adults of both parasitoid species died 24 hours after exposure to chlorfenapyr, emamectin benzoate and permethrin. In contrast, the three insect growth regulators (IGRs), chlorfluazuron, flufenoxuron and teflubenzuron, were found harmless to both species, and adult mortality of both parasitoid species was 0–16.7%. However, parasitism by the females of both parasitoid species was severely impaired when the females were offered the three IGR diluted solutions for 24 hours. Effects of oral toxicities of the IGRs on longevity of both parasitoids after 12 hours exposure were found to be significantly different between males and females. Compatibility of tested insecticides with D. semiclausum and O. sokolowskii and integration of compatible insecticides with these parasitoids in integrated pest management programs of crucifers are discussed.     

The role of volatiles from cruciferous plants and pre-flight experience in the foraging behaviour of the specialist parasitoid Cotesia plutellae

The braconid Cotesia plutellae is an important larval parasitoid of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a major pest of crucifers in the tropics and sub-tropics. The in-flight searching behaviour of C. plutellae was investigated in a wind tunnel and the close-range attack behaviour observed in cages. The relative importance of volatile stimuli emanating from the plant-host-complex, oilseed rape (Brassica napus) – P. xylostella, in the long-range attraction of C. plutellae was investigated. Plants that were mechanically damaged, or damaged by P. xylostella larvae, were attractive to the parasitoid. Host-damaged leaves remained attractive to the parasitoid after removal of the host larvae. These results indicate that C. plutellae predominantly uses plant derived stimuli in its in-flight searching behaviour. An oviposition experience or contact with a host-damaged leaf prior to the bioassay significantly increased the response to these volatile cues. The foraging behaviour of C. plutellae is compared with other braconid larval parasitoids attacking lepidopteran hosts on crucifers.     

Analysis of population dynamics of diamondback moth, (Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)) at two sites in central Ethiopia, with particular reference to parasitism

Change in diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella L.) numbers and level of parasitism on head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) was monitored for two seasons in two different agroecological zones representing the highland and lowland brassica-producing areas of central Ethiopia in 2001 and 2002. Two to three generations in the highland site and three to five generations in the lowland site per cabbage growing season were observed. Three parasitoids were recorded at both locations. These were Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Diadegma sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Diadegma sp. was the dominant parasitoid at the highland site and O. sokolowskii was dominant at the lowland site. Rainfall and maximum temperature significantly influenced DBM numbers and parasitoid activity at the highland experimental site.     

Does a Specialist Parasitoid Adapt to its Host on a New Host Plant?

The host plant expansion of a diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (DBM) strain to snowpea (Pisum sativum L.) raised the question whether a specialist parasitoid Diadegma semiclausum (DS) could be conditioned to locate and parasitize its host on the new host plant. In a specialist parasitoid a behavioural change towards a plant outside the normal host plant range of its host due to developmental experience is not expected. The responsive behaviour, parasitism rates and fitness of three subsequent DS generations were investigated on the snowpea-strain of DBM. After three generations of DS on the pea 62.5% of females chose an DBM-infested pea plant over DBM infested cabbage. Only 16.4% of cabbage-reared DS was attracted to infested pea. Rearing of the parasitoid in host larvae on peas significantly increased the number of larvae parasitized on this host plant in the first generation; however, there was no further increase in generations 2 and 3. Larval mortality was similar for all parasitoid/DBM combinations on both host plants, but significantly higher mortality occurred in parasitoid pupae from peas. Development time of the parasitoid was slightly prolonged on the pea strain of DBM. The number of females produced by parasitoids reared on the pea strain of DBM was significantly reduced as compared to D. semiclausum reared on the cabbage strain on both host strains. Results show that DS has the potential to change its responsive behaviour in order to locate its host on a new host plant. According to the current view, a specialist parasitoid is not expected to change its reaction to a plant outside the normal host plant range of its host. Within 3 generations, responsive behaviour towards snowpea could be increased. However, fitness trade-offs, especially an extreme shift in sex ratio to males reduced reproductive success.     

Parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Mythimna convecta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae infesting late-maturing maize in southern New South Wales

Abstract  After several reports of late-maturing maize in Murrumbidgee valley, southern New South Wales, Australia, being severely damaged by armyworm, five crops were surveyed for the presence of larvae in April 2003. Mythimna convecta Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the only species successfully reared from armyworm larvae collected in the field. Ninety-six per cent of armyworm larvae collected were parasitised. Five parasitoid species, Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa (Malloch), Ceromya horma (Malloch), Tritaxys scutellate (Macquart), Chaetophthalmus sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) and Netelia sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were reared from M. convecta larvae. Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa was the most frequently encountered parasitoid being reared from 83% of M. convecta larvae collected. Examination of maize plants at each collection site showed high numbers of tachinid puparia adhering to plants. Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa was the only species reared from these puparia. Of the Cu . sp. nr pilosa puparia collected, 23–83% were parasitised by five parasitoid wasps: Trichomalopsis sp. Crawford (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Brachymeria sp. Westwood, Eupelmus sp. Dalman (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), Perilampus sp. Latreille (Hymenoptera: Perilampidae) and a species belonging to the family Diapriidae.     

A survey of hymenopteran parasitoids of forest macrolepidoptera in the central Appalachians

In 1995 and 1996, we conducted a study of the hymenopteran parasitoids of macrolepidopteran larvae in the George Washington National Forest (GWNF), Augusta County, Virginia, and the Monongahela National Forest (MNF), Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Macrolepidopteran larvae were collected from canopy foliage and from under canvas bands placed around tree boles. A total of 115 macrolepidopteran species and 5,235 individual larvae were reared. Forty-two percent (2,221) of the larvae were gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lymantriidae). A total of 43 primary and secondary (hyperparasitoid) hymenopteran parasitoid species were reared from 46 macrolepidopteran species. Hymenopteran families represented included Ichneumonidae (23 species), Braconidae (19), Eulophidae (6), Perilampidae (1), and Trigonalidae (1). We reared 41 and 28 parasitoid species from the GWNF and the MNF, respectively, with 19 species reared from both forests. Many parasitoid species were collected infrequently, suggesting that they are relatively rare on the sampled hosts. The introduced species Cotesia melanoscela (Ratzeburg) (Braconidae), and Euplectrus bicolor (Swederus) (Eulophidae) were among the most commonly reared parasitoids, the latter reared from native hosts. The four most commonly reared native parasitoids were Meteorus hyphantriae, Riley (Braconidae), Microplitis near hyphantriae (Ashmead) (Braconidae), Aleiodes preclarus Marsh & Shaw, and Euplectrus maculiventris (Westwood) (Eulophidae). A total of 53 new hymenopteran parasitoid-macrolepidopteran host records were documented. Results from this study will be used to evaluate long-term treatment effects of regional applications of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, and the gypsy moth fungus Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & Soper on hymenopteran parasitoids of macrolepidopteran larvae.