Developmental interactions between the army wormLeucania separata [Lep.: Noctuidae] and its parasiteApanteles ruficrus [Hym.: Braconidae]

The developmental interactions between the gregarious endoparasitoidApanteles ruficrus Hal. and the army worm,Leucania separata Walker were investigated. The parasitoid preferred young host larvae and developed in 9.5 days irrespective of host age at the time of parasitization. The growth of parasitized host larvae were depressed. The net maximum weight of the host larva was positively correlated with the number of parasitoid eggs laid when the 2nd instar was parasitized. And when parasitizing in 2nd instar, the weight of parasitoid was negatively correlated with the number of eggs laid. The parasitoid has an ability to regulate the size of the host and the parasitoid itself according to the number of eggs laid when the host larva is very small.     

ACactoblastis [Lep.: Phycitidae] for the biological control ofEriocereus martinii [Cactaceae] in Australia

ACactoblastis sp. was found on Harrisia cactus (Eriocereus martinii Lab.) in north-eastern Argentina. In biology and life history it is similar toCactoblastis cactorum (Berg.) though attacking different cacti. Laboratory tests and field observations demonstrate that it will only damage plants in the sub-tribeCereanae of theCactaceae. It was approved for liberation in Queensland, Australia in August 1975 for the control ofEriocereus spp., and field releases were made in October 1978.     

Biological control ofDiatraea saccharalis [Lep.: Pyralidae] in Florida by periodic releases ofLixophaga diatraeae [Dipt.: Tachinidae]

Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) parasitized 20 to 78% ofDiatraea saccharalis (F) larval populations within 3 weeks after release. The flies (4 to 6 days old) did not migrate from the release area, but the progeny dispersed as much as 3 km into adjacent untreated areas within 5 generations. Progeny dispersal, apparently during the prelarviposition period, resulted in 100% parasitization ofD. saccharalis larvae in some plots. In 2 of the 3 tests, the host population decreased after the releases. Percentage damaged internodes increased with distance from the release site.

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Résumé Des lachers de la mouche parasite, appelée vulgairement mouche de Cuba, dans les champs de anne, en Floride, ont limité les populations du foreur de la canne. La tachinaire a parasité 20 à 78% des foreurs. En outre, la descendance des parasites a été retrouvée à plus de 3 km des points de lacher. Les dégats aux cannes à sucre furent moindres dans les champs où les lachers ont été effectués que dans les champs voisins.

     

Large-scale production ofBactra verutana [Lep.: Tortricidae] for the biological control of nutsedge

Methods for large-scale rearing and handling of the tortricid,Bactra verutana Zeller, were developed for early-season augmentation of this insect to biologically control purple nutsedge,Cyperus rotundus L., and yellow nutsedge,C. esculentus L. A modified soybean flour-wheat germ larval diet, originally developed for the sugarcane borer,Diatraea saccharalis (L.), yielded pupae equal in weight to pupae from larvae reared on the standardBactra casein-wheat germ diet in an earlier test. An oviposition cage, constructed of 3.1-mm mesh hardware cloth in the form of a cylinder 17 cm high and 15 cm in diameter and wrapped with sheets of clear polyethylene, provided the rough-textured surface necessary for maximum oviposition. Although crowded, each female laid an average of 257 eggs, all on the polyethylene wrappers, which equaled or exceeded average producion in smooth-surfaced cages (168–204 / ♀). The sheets of eggs were placed in Erlenmeyer flasks from which the newly-hatched larvae were removed from the flasks by swirling 200 ml corn cob grits around in each flask. This procedure killed or injured 10 % of the larvae. With this techique an average 90, 500 living larvae were produced per day for field release over an 87-day period. When 22.5-ml cups of diet containing pupae were dumped in piles in screen cages or when the diet with pupae was removed from each cup and placed in a pile in the cages, only 40 % of the moths were recovered. The recovery rate was 75 % from cups nested in crossstacked 36-cell trays placed in cages. Collecting the moths for field release by aspirating 200 of them into 2-liter flasks had no effect on fecundity. With this method an average 2,675 adults were produced per day for field release over a 95-day period.     

Biology ofTyta luctuosa [Lep.: Noctuidae] and its potential value as a biological control agent for the weedConvolvulus arvensis

The biology of the noctuid,Tyta luctuosa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lep.: Noctuidae), a defoliator of field bindweed,Convolvulus arvensis L., was studied in southern Europe.T. luctuosa is widely distributed and feeds on both thick stands and scattered host populations growing in a diversity of habitats. It undergoes 2 and perhaps a partial 3rd generation/year in southern Europe and is active during most of the growing season ofC. arvensis. In the laboratory the total time from egg to adult averages 45.6 days. There are 5 larval instars. Adult females deposit on average over 400 eggs. The larvae being able to feed and develop on native North AmericanCalystegia spp. in the laboratory, there are some reservations about its release in North America. However, the moth has potential value as a biological control agent for field bindeed in the western USA where it would fill an almost unoccupied niche.      

Selection of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses as biological control agents ofSpodoptera exigua [Lep.: Noctuidae]

The virulence of 5 nuclear polyhedrosis viruses infectious for larvae of beet armyworm,Spodoptera exigua, was studied and their potential as biological control agents of this accidentally introduced pest in Dutch greenhouse crops is discussed. Three of the virus isolates were collected from deceased beet armyworm larvae found in Dutch greenhouses. Based on restriction endonuclease patterns of their DNA they appeared to be closely related toMamestra brassicae nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MbMNPV) and therefore were named MbMNPV-NL80, MbMNPV-NL82 and MbMNPV-NL83. These isolates were not related toAutographa californica MNPV (AcMNPV) or toSpodoptera exigua MNPV (SeMNPV), both originating from the USA. Comparison of the oiological activity of these 5 isolates showed that the SeMNPV was more virulent against beet armyworm than the other isolates. There was no significant difference in virulence between MbMNPV-NL80, NL82, NL83 and AcMNPV forS. exigua. The LD-50 values of the 5 isolates for 2nd instar larvae were 3, 26, 14, 17 and 18 polyhedra, respectively. Despite compensating qualities of the other MNPVs, such as a broader host range and potential production in alternate hosts or cell-lines, SeMNPV is considered to be the most suitable candidate as biological control agent of beet armyworm.      

Laboratory rearing of the predatory coccinellidCleobora mellyi [Col.: Coccinellidae] for biological control ofParopsis charybdis [Col.: Chrysomelidae] in New Zealand

Cleobora mellyi Mulstant has been introduced into New Zealand in an attempt to controlParopsis charybdis Stål. Artificial diets and a practical method for rearing the predatory Australian ladybird,C. mellyi, are described.     

Parasitoids ofPectinophora gossypiella [Lep.: Gelechiidae] andEarias spp. [Lep.: Noctuidae] in the Punjab

Observations on the parasitoids of cotton bollworms in the Punjab were made during 1978 and 1979. The 2 trichogrammatid egg parasitoids, viz.Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja & Nagarkatti andTrichogrammatoidea sp. nearguamensis Nagaraja (MS) were recovered fromPectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) in addition to 1 braconid egg-larval parasitoidChelonus sp. and 7 larval parasitoids, viz. 4 braconidsApanteles angaleti Muesebeck,Bracon greeni Ashsmead,Camptothlipsis sp. andRogas sp., 1 elasmid,Elasmus johnstoni Ferrière, 1 bethylid,Goniozus sp. and 1 ichneumonid,Scambus lineipes (Morley). FromEarias insulana Boisduval andEarias vittella F., 3 trichogrammatid egg parasitoids,T. achaeae, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, andT. sp. nearguamensis 2 braconid larval parasitoids,B. greeni andRogas sp. and 1 chalcid pupal parasitoid,Brachymeria nephantidis Gahan, were recovered. One eurytomid hyperparasitoid,Eurytoma braconidis Ferrière was also recovered from the cocoons ofB. greeni. Of these parasitoids,T. achaeae, T. sp. nearguamensis, Camptothlipsis sp. andS. lineipes fromP. gossypiella, T. achaeae andB. nephantidis fromEarias spp. andE. braconidis fromB. greeni are new records.     

Biological,microbiological and chemical control of the plum mothlaspeyresia funebrana tr. [Lep. tortricidae] in Poland

Résumé Une expérience a été conduite en vue de comparer la lutte chimique, la lutte biologique par entomophages et la lutte biologique par entomopathogènes contre le Carpocapse des Prunes. Le verger choisi comportait plus de 6 000 arbres de 15 ans, pratiquement d'une seule variété. Chaque lot contenait 100 arbres séparés par une zone d'isolement de 50 arbres. Les résultats obtenus dans chacune des 18 formulations testées sont donnés dans le tableau 1 et l'analyse de la signification des différences de production (totale) constatées entre chaque lot est présentée par la figure 2. En conclusion, les auteurs soulignent l'intérêt deTrichogramma cacoeciae qui se révèle un des plus efficaces moyens de lutte contre ce ravageur.      

A leaf feeding moth,Euclasta whalleyi [Lep.: Pyralidae] for the biological control ofCryptostegia grandiflora [Asclepiadaceae] in Queensland,Australia

In Madagascar, the leaf feeding Pyralid,Euclasta whalleyi Popescu-Gorj & Constantinescu, occurs onCryptostegia grandiflora R. Br. and other genera in the subfamilyPeriplocoideae of the familyAsclepiadaceae. Studies on its biology and host plant specificity have shown it is restricted to this subfamily. The Australian native,Gymnanthera nitida R. Br., also belongs to this sub-family and is host to an Australian native moth,Euclasta maceratalis Lederer. Despite the likelihood ofE. whalleyi feeding onG. nitida and competing withE. maceratalis, the moth was approved for release in Australia in October 1987. During 1988 over 22,000 larvae were released; field establishment is not yet proven.      

Establishment ofGoniozus emigratus andGoniozus legneri [Hym: Bethylidae] on navel orangeworm,Amyelois transitella [Lep: Phycitidae] in California and biological control potential

The external larval parasites,Goniozus emigratus (Rohwer) andGoniozus legneri Gordh, which were dominant on navel orangeworn,Amyelois transitella (Walker) in south Texas and in Uruguay and central Argentina, respectively, were successfully established at experimental irrigated almod orchard in California's Central Valley in 1979. Both species had been released for 4 months at rates of ca. 2.500 per ha., and both persisted into the 1980 and 1981 harvests, albeit at lower frequencies than were recorded in 1979. Coexistence with an earlier introduced parasite,Pentalitomastix plethorica Caltagirone, occurred at all experimental sites. Separate k-value analyses indicated significant regulation of their navel orangeworm host during the warm summer season. No such tendency was measured withP. plethorica during June, August, and December samples, indicating the need for further examination of this parasite's potential regulative role in different seasons such as mid-spring and autumn.     

Biological control ofCuscuta spp. III. Phenology,biology and host-specificity ofHerpystis cuscutae Bradley [Lep., Tortricidae]

Life history and status ofHerpystis cuscutae as biological control agent have been investigated. Of the tenCuscuta spp. in Pakistan it infested onlyC. reflexa on six host plants of whichAdhatoda vasica andDodonaea viscosa were the most preferred. Variations in its period of activity in different areas were attributed to the differences in the fruiting periods of its host. It was found to have a tolerance for extremes of climates, was multivoltine, could complete development on some convolvules, legumes and umbellifers among the plants of 28 families tested and was apparently free from natural enemies.     

Studies onPrays acmonias [Lep.: Yponomeutidae] and its natural enemies in Pakistan

A survey forPrays acmonias Meyr. and its natural enemies was made in the northern hills in Pakistan. It attackedViburnum spp. in the Murree hills, Azad Kashmir and Swat. Its populations were generally low at most localities.Deraecoris sp.,Haplothrips sp. (egg predators),Apanteles sp. nr.dilectus Hal.,Elasmus hyblaeae Ferrière,Elachertus sp.,Euderus sp. andSympiesis sp. (larval parasites),Sphedanolestes sp. (larval predator),Aspergillus flavus Link andStreptococcus sp. (pathogens) attackedP. acmonias. Among theseApanteles was more common throughout the distribution area of the host and destroyed up to 13% host larvae. It appears to be a possibly promising parasite for trials in areas wherePrays spp. are pests. However, it did not parasitizePrays oleae (Bern.).

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Résumé Cette chenille qui attaque lesViburnum spp. dans les collines du Nord du Pakistan s'y trouve généralement en faibles densités.Deraecoris sp.,Haplothrips sp. (prédateurs des œufs),Apanteles sp. nr.dilectus Hal.,Elaemus hyblaeae Ferrière,Elachertus sp.,Euderus sp. etSympiesis sp. (parasites des larves),Sphedanolestes sp. (prédateur des larves),Aspergillus flavus Link etStreptococcus sp. (germes pathogènes) sont les ennemis naturels deP. acmonias. Le plus commun estApanteles, qui peut détruire jusqu'à 13% des chenilles. Il peut être un parasite intéressant pour la lutte contre desPrays spp., mais il ne parasite pasPrays oleae (Perm.).

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This work was sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as a part of the project entitled “Research on the control of olive pests and diseases in continental Greece, Crete and Corfu”.     

Biological control of the weed,Chromolaena odorata [Asteraceae], byPareuchaetes pseudoinsulata [Lep.: Arctiidae] on Guam and the northern Mariana Islands

Chromolaena odorata L. is a major weed of tropical plantations and pasture lands.Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros [Lep.: Arctiidae] was mass-reared and released to control the weed on the Mariana Islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan in the western Pacific. One year following establishment ofP. pseudoinsulata on Guam, the weed was reduced 100% at 3 of 4 sites monitored with fixed quadrats. Seed production was prevented if defoliation occurred prior to the beginning of the flowering season. If defoliation occurred shortly after flowering began, the developing seeds were eaten byP. pseudoinsulata or there was a significant reduction in weight and germination of seeds that matured. Eighteen months after establishing on Guam,P. pseudoinsulata had defoliated approximately 25,000 hectares of the weed. This is the 1^st report on the quantitative impact of any control agent forC. odorata, and though the long term effect of the insect is still unknown, these results are encouraging.     

Current status of biological control of the small moth borers of sugar caneDiatraea spp. [Lep. Pyraeididae]

A review of recent attempts of biological control of small moth borers of sugar caneDiatraea spp in the various contries in the West Indies, North and South America is given. In several areas where successful biological control has been achieved, the relative costs of the campaigns and the resultant added revenue are discussed.

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Résumé Il est procédé à une revue des récents essais de lutte biologique contre les petits foreurs de la Canne à sucre,Diatraea spp., dans diverses régions des Antilles et de l'Amérique du Nord et du Sud. Dans plusierus cas où des succès ont été obtenus, le bilan économique de l'intervention biologique est établi: frais occasionnés et bénéfices dus aux augmentations de récolte.

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Presented at the symposium O.I.L.B. on borer of graminaceous plants. Paris, 24th sept. 1970     

Effect of the number of parasitoid (Apanteles kariyai) eggs [Hym.: Braconidae] on the growth of host (Leucania separata) larvae [Lep.: Noctuidae]

The developmental interactions between a gregarious endoparasitoid,Apanteles kariyai Watanabe and its host,Leucania separata Walker, were investigated. The parasitoid laid more eggs in older hosts. Host size increased gradiently as the instar advanced, but the number of eggs laid per host did not increase accordingly. The net weight of the host was correlated positively with the number of eggs laid and with the total weight of parasitoids, especially in cases of parasitization at 3rd (5th-instar type), 4th and early 6th instar where the correlation was significant at 1% level. It follows therefore that the more parasitoids there are relative to their host size, the more they contribute to make the host size larger.     

Field evaluation ofAllorhogas pyralophagus [Hym.: Braconidae], imported into texas for biological control of the stalkborerEoreuma loftini [Lep.: Pyralidae] in sugar cane

The external, gregarious, braconid parasite,Allorhogas pyralophagus Marsh was mass released into field cages enclosing sugar cane infested with the pyralid,Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) to examine factors affecting parasitism rates and to assess the parasite's potential contribution to borer larval mortality. Three field experiments were conducted in July, September, and December, 1984. Total parasitism was 25.2% for the study and was the single most important source of borer mortality. Borers were equally susceptible to attack in leaf sheaths, whorls, and stalks in general, but larvae tunneling deep within stalks were parasitized less. An interaction between tunneling behavior of the borer and attack strategy of the parasite was important for parasite success.A. pyralophagus is probably unable to effect complete control ofE. loftini in sugar cane becauseA. pyralophagus is physically unable to parasitize borers deep in the stalks. However, the parasite may be useful as part of an intergrated pest management program, acting in concert with other parasite species, or attacking the borer in small-stemed grasses that serve as alternate host plants.      

Parasites ofSpodoptera exigua,S. eridania [Lep.: Noctuidae] andHerpetogramma bipunctalis [Lep.: Pyralidae] collected fromAmaranthus hybridus in field corn

Three species of lepidopterous larvae were collected fromAmaranthus hybridus L. growing in field corn during 1975 and 1976 at Hastings, Florida.Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) was the predominant species in May.Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) was predominant in June andHerpetogramma bipunctalis (F.) in July and August. Nine native species of parasites, representing theBraconidae, Eulophidae, Ichneumonidae andTachinidae, emerged from these larvae.Meteorus autographae Muesebeck emerged from bothS. exigua andS. eridania. TheTachinidae, Winthemia rufopicta (Bigot),Eucelatori rubentis (Coquillett) andLespensia sp., emerged from mixtures ofS. exigua andS. eridania. Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson),Temelucha sp., andChelonus texanus Cresson emerged from bothS. exigua andH. bipunctalis larvae, andEuplectrus platyhypenae Howard andOphion sp. emerged fromS. eridania. All the species of parasites from the lepidopterous larvae that feed onAmaranthus hybridus are also reported as parasites ofS. frugiperda, a serious pest of corn. Therefore these larvae onA. hybridus may be a source of the parasites found attackingS. frugiperda.     

The parasitoids ofSpodoptera littoralis [Lep.: Noctuidae] and their role in population control in Cyprus

This paper is based on 20 months survey and laboratory studies of the parasitoids ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lep.: Noctuidae) carried out in Cyprus in 1971–72. Regular sampling revealed the presence of 19 further macrolepidopterous members of the ecosystem, includingS. exigua (Hbn.),Heliothis spp. and “Plusia” spp. Attacking these were a complex of at least 37 named primary parasitoids and a single secondary parasitoid. The commonest were the ichneumonidHyposoter didymator (Thnb.) and the braconidsChelonus inanitus (L.),Meteorus unicolor (Wesm.) andMicroplitis rufiventris Kok. and notes on their hosts, hostplants and biology are given. Almost all of the parasitoids were polyphagous and this, together with a wide range of hostplants, appears to improve the carry-over of the parasitoids and permit for greater parasitism of the main pests,S. littoralis andS. exigua. The % parasitism is shown to vary greatly with the situation, being highest in unsprayed lucerne field and unsprayed market gardens, and lowest in potato fields and sprayed vegetable plots. Recommendations are made for possible reductions in crop spraying, permitting the growth of weeds, under certain conditions, mass-rearing and liberation of an endemic parasitoid (C. inanitus) and filling gaps in the parasite complex by the introduction of exotic parasitoids.     

Host specificity ofPterolonche inspersa [Lep.: Pterolonchidae] and its potential as a biological control agent forCentaurea diffusa,diffuse knapweed,andC. Maculosa,spotted knapweed

In 1981 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory (BCWL, Rome, Italy) started investigating the host specificity ofP. inspersa as a candidate for biological control ofC. diffusa andC. maculosa, and in 1985 the investigation was completed at the USDA Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory at Albany, California. Thirty five species of plants in the familyAsteraceae and 23 other species in 8 related families were tested. Larval survival beyond 1st instar occurred only onCentaurea spp. except for 1 larva found inCnicus benedictus L.P. inspersa is stenophagous onCentaurea, therefore, a good candidate for introduction into North America.