Arthropod Natural Enemies of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India

Helicoverpa armigera Hubner Lepidoptera: Noctuidae is one of the most serious insect pests in the Old World. In India, it causes substantial losses to legume, fibre, cereal oilseed and vegetable crops. This paper reviews the literature on the biology, ecology, efficacy, rearing and augmentation of endemic parasitoids and predators, as well as exotic parasitoids introduced and released in India. It also provides updated lists of H. armigera natural enemies native to India. In addition, reports of augmentative releases of Trichogramma spp., the most extensively studied natural enemy of H. armigera are summarized.     

Laboratory and field studies on the integrated pest management of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in cotton, based on pheromone trap catch threshold level

Abstract: With a view to using parasitoids and predators in integrated pest management of the target pest Helicoverpa armigera in cotton fields, basic studies on the egg parasitism, toxicity of insecticides to parasitoids and predators and compatibility of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of H. armigera with other insecticides were conducted in the laboratory. Results revealed that egg parasitism in the laboratory by Trichogramma chilonis was 75.6%. Among the insecticides tested against T. chilonis and the predator Chrysoperla carnea , nimbecidine (neem product) and dipel resulted in zero mortality, with only a low level of mortality by dimethoate, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, alphamethrin and monocrotophos. Combinations of nimbecidine 2% + NPV at 250 larval equivalents (LE)/ha and dipel 8 l + NPV @250 LE/ha were the most effective treatments against H. armigera . The integrated pest management components ( T . chilonis , C . carnea , NPV, nimbecidine, dipel and synthetic chemicals) were imposed at different intervals on the basis of pheromone trap threshold level (7 moths/trap per night) on a consolidated block of 40 ha cotton (MCU-1) fields at two locations, Shankarabanda and Korlagundi. The results demonstrated a significant superiority of the IPM strategy in terms of both cost versus benefit and environmental safety over that used in the farmer's fields where only conventional control methods were followed.     

常规棉花粉和转Cry1Ac+CpTI棉花粉对拟澳洲赤眼蜂繁殖和存活的影响

在室内评价了常规棉花粉和转Cry1Ac CpTI棉(Bt棉)花粉通过不同处理方式作为食物源对拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogrammaconfusum寿命、寄生卵数、子代羽化数和性比等繁殖和存活特征的影响。共设计7个饲喂处理,即不饲喂(UNFED)、水(W)、水 常规棉花粉(W P)、水 Bt棉花粉(W BtP)、10%蜂蜜水(H)、10%蜂蜜水 常规棉花粉(H P)和10%蜂蜜水 转Bt棉花粉(H BtP)。在提供或不提供米蛾Corcyracephalonica卵条件下,经W P或W BtP饲喂的雌蜂寿命与W或UNFED间无显著差异,但均显著短于H和H P或H BtP饲喂的雌蜂,而经H P或H BtP饲喂的雌蜂寿命又均显著长于经H饲喂的雌蜂(p<0.05)。比较每雌寄生卵数和子代羽化数来看,各处理明显分为3类,即UNFED、W、W P和W BtP为最低,H为居中,H P和H BtP为最高。比较每雌子代性比来看,各处理也明显分为3类,即H、H P和H BtP为最低,W P和W BtP为居中,UNFED和W为最高。饲喂W P和W BtP的雌蜂寿命、寄生卵粒数、子代羽化数和性比分别与W BtP和H BtP饲喂间无显著差异(p<0.05)。因而,棉花花粉需与蜂蜜组合才能成为拟澳洲赤眼蜂实现其最大存活和繁殖力的食物;Bt棉花粉对拟澳洲赤眼蜂无影响。     

Trichogramma egg parasitism of Helicoverpa armigera on pigeonpea and sorghum in southern India

Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) only rarely parasitize eggs of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh), while on other plants including sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) high parasitism levels of this host are found. In this study two strategies designed to increase the parasitoid activity on pigeonpea were tested in the field: intercropping pigeonpea with sorghum and mass-releasing T. chilonis Ishii. Neither strategy led to an increase in parasitism. On pigeonpea, H. armigera oviposited >74.8% of its eggs on calyxes and pods. Parasitism levels in host eggs collected from different plant structures varied significantly with 3.6, 0.3, and 40.7% of eggs on calyxes, pods, and leaves parasitized. Earlier studies have shown that calyxes and pods possess long glandular and non-glandular trichomes, and are covered by sticky trichome exudates which inhibit parasitoid searching behaviour. Parasitism levels between 27.9 and 100% were recorded from host eggs on the intercropped sorghum. Trichogramma chilonis was the dominant parasitoid species. The mean clutch size was 2.03, but up to six parasitoids emerged per egg. Progeny sex ratio (% females) decreased with clutch size, from 63.1% at a clutch size of one to 46.0% at a clutch size of five. Sticky trap catches showed that while the parasitoid population in sorghum increased when H. armigera started ovipositing, the population within pigeonpea did not benefit from either a high parasitoid population in sorghum or a high host egg density on pigeonpea. During one of five seasons studied, however, high parasitism levels (up to 73%) were recorded on pigeonpea. During this season, H. armigera oviposited on pigeonpea plants in the vegetative growth stage and a high proportion of eggs were collected from leaves. Parasitism levels were positively correlated with the percentage of eggs collected from leaves. This study shows that the parasitization efficiency of Trichogramma spp. on pigeonpea depends mainly on the location of the host eggs. This explains why parasitism levels of H. armigera eggs on pigeonpea did not increase when intercropped with sorghum or after mass-releasing T. chilonis.     

Physical and chemical plant characters inhibiting the searching behaviour of shape Trichogramma chilonis

Several plant characters are known to affect the searching behaviour and parasitization efficiency of Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In this study, plant characters contributing to the low Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) egg parasitism levels on pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) were investigated. The efficiency of T. chilonis on pigeonpea was dependent on the plant structure on which the host eggs were found. In a cage experiment, more than 55% of eggs placed on leaves were parasitized, while 1% of eggs on calyxes and no eggs on pods were parasitized. In a filter paper bioassay, parasitoids were deterred by acetone and hexane surface extracts from pigeonpea pods but showed no response to water extract. The searching behaviour of the parasitoids was not affected by different solvent extracts from the surface of pigeonpea leaves. In a four-armed airflow olfactometer, T. chilonis was repelled by volatiles from pigeonpea pods but showed no response to volatiles derived from hexane extract of pod surfaces. Volatile infochemicals and hexane surface extracts from pods of two wild Cajanus species, C. scarabaeoides (L.) Thours and C. platycarpus (Bentham) van der Maesen, were similarly deterrent to T. chilonis. The movement of the parasitoids on pigeonpea pods and calyxes was inhibited by long trichomes and wasps were trapped by sticky trichome exudates. Parasitoids walked significantly faster on leaves than on pods. The walking speed on both pods and leaves increased significantly after washing with hexane. The results presented in this paper show that the plant growth stage and the plant structures preferred by H. armigera for oviposition are the least suitable for T. chilonis, contributing to the low parasitoid efficiency on pigeonpea.     

In Vitro Development of Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Long-term Stored, Freeze-dried Artificial Media

Freeze-dried media were successfully used to facilitate the rearing of oophagous parasitoids of the Trichogramma genus under artificial conditions. These media can be prepared when biological material, such as insect haemolymph, is available, and then stored for later use for several months. The development of two Trichogramma dendrolimi strains from China (TdC) and Italy (TdI) and Trichogramma brassicae (Tb) in rehydrated freeze-dried media was tested with artificial host egg cards. About 5560 artificial host eggs were used in the experiments. The percentages of parasitism, pupation and emergence were similar in rehydrated freeze-dried media stored for 8 months and in fresh media. For TdI, the freeze-dried media centrifuged after rehydration induced a higher percentage parasitism, and media that were not centrifuged induced a higher percentage pupation. This could be due to minor modifications in the balance between free and total amino acids. The development parameters observed varied slightly according to the species or strain of Trichogramma tested (TdC, TdI or Tb). Polyvinyl alcohol smeared on the artificial eggs strongly improved egg laying and reduced the variability of the development parameters. Freeze-drying, which does not alter the performance of the media, is a process suited for the long-term storage of artificial media for parasitoids.     

Impact of Vairimorpha sp. (Microsporidia: Burnellidae) on Trichogramma chilonis (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae), a hymenopteran parasitoid of the cabbage moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae).

A multi-generation mass breeding colony of the cabbage moth, Plutella xylostella, was found to be infected with a microsporidium, Vairimorpha sp., which is passed transovarially between generations. The microsporidian infection had little impact on the fitness of this lepidopteran pest. However, when Trichogramma chilonis parasitized such infected host eggs, the offspring of this parasitoid species suffered from severe deficiencies. Microsporidian spores, ingested by parasitoid larvae together with the host egg nutrients, gave rise to stages which developed in various tissues of the parasitoid, such as the flight muscle and the nervous system. This infection resulted in a significantly increased rate of metamorphosis failure (related to host age) and reduced longevity and reproductive performance of the parasitoids. There are two main consequences arising from our findings if T. chilonis is to be used in an integrated control strategy against P. xylostella: (1) T. chilonis must be raised on Vairimorpha-free host eggs to receive viable and efficaceous parasitoids for release and (2) if natural populations of the cabbage moth in cruciferous crops are infected with Vairimorpha to a significant extent, the parasitoid must be released repeatedly within infested crop areas.     

Natural Enemies of Sorghum Shoot Fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae)

The sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata is one of the most important pests of grain sorghum in Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Europe. This paper reviews the current state of information on diversity, ecobiology, parasitism levels, and mass rearing of the parasitoids, predators and pathogens attacking different stages of A. soccata . Among the parasitoids, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Trichogrammatoidea simmondsi Nagaraja on the eggs, and Neotrichoporoides nyemitawus Rohwer on the larvae are most important. Although 15 species of predators have been recorded, their predation potential has not been assessed under field conditions. Several species of spiders are important predators on eggs. The ecobiology of T. chilonis, T. simmondsi, N. nyemitawus, Spalangia endius Walker and Trichopria sp. has been studied in considerable detail. The parasitism levels are quite high during the post-rainy season by Aprostocetus sp., N. nyemitawus , Opius sp. and S. endius . Augmenting populations of T. chilonis does not reduce the shoot fly infestation under field conditions. Parasitism by N. nyemitawus is greater in sorghum-cowpea intercrop than where sorghum is the sole crop. Mass rearing techniques are available only for T. chilonis and T. bactrae . The constraints and challenges for utilizing the natural enemies in integrated pest management have been discussed.     

基于微卫星引物鉴别不同地理种群玉米螟赤眼蜂和螟黄赤眼蜂

不同地理种群的赤眼蜂在遗传、生理和生态适应性等方面均表现出不同程度的分化。为探究不同地理种群的玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae和螟黄赤眼蜂Trichogramma chilonis在基因型上的差异并进行准确鉴定,本研究筛选了可用以区分不同地理种群玉米螟赤眼蜂和螟黄赤眼蜂的微卫星引物。结果表明：从已报道的10对微卫星引物中,筛选出2对引物（序列号：KT834825,KT834827）可以区分玉米螟赤眼蜂中的黑龙江地理种群与吉林和辽宁两个地理种群;并筛选出2对引物（序列号：KT834822,KT834825）可以区分黑龙江、贵州和广东3个不同地理种群的螟黄赤眼蜂。该结果进一步证实赤眼蜂不同地理种群间可能存在明显的基因型差异,研究结果为精准鉴别玉米螟赤眼蜂和螟黄赤眼蜂不同地理种群,以及进一步探寻优势种群的高效繁育与应用技术奠定了理论基础。     

Temperature-dependent Development of Four Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma Species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Trichogramma species have been successfully utilized for biocontrol of several lepidopteran pests worldwide. The development, survival and progeny production of two Kenyan species' Trichogramma bournieri Pintureau & Babault and Trichogramma sp. nr. mwanzai Schulten & Feijen (collected from Kenya), Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Germany) and Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (India) was studied at four constant temperatures (13, 18, 25 and 34°C) with the 011 aim of assessing the relative biotic potential of the two native species for 011 biocontrol of Helicoverpa armigera and Plutella xylostella in Kenya. The study was conducted at the Institute 011 for Biological Control (BBA), Darmstadt, Germany. The Trichogramma species tested showed variations 011 in fertility, developmental time, percent emergence, progeny production and sex ratio 011 at the four temperature regimes. Fertility decreased as temperature increased from 25 to 34°C. 011 T. chilonis and T. evanescens completed development at all temperatures tested, but T. 011 bournieri and T. sp. nr. mwanzai failed to complete development at 13°C. The developmental 011 period for all the species decreased as the temperature increased. The duration of development from 011 oviposition to adult emergence varied from 8 days to 12 weeks shorter at 34°C than at 011 13°C for T. chilonis and T. evanescens . For the various temperatures tested, a linear model was 011 satisfactory for egg to adult development at P = 0.05 for T. chilonis and T. evanescens . The 011 lower temperature thresholds for development and duration in degree-days were 8.83°C and 188 for 011 T. chilonis and 9.23°C and 192 for T. evanescens , respectively. For all temperatures tested, 011 T. sp. nr. mwanzai had the highest preimaginal survivorship. Adult emergence was lower at 13°C and 34°C than at 011 18 and 25°C. The highest fertility (mean ±SE) (50.37 ±2.32 adult 011 female -1 ) and progeny production (44.03 ±2.02 adult female -1 ) was recorded at 25°C for 011 T. evanescens . Sex ratio was biased towards female at all temperatures in T. bournieri and T. chilonis . 011 At all temperatures tested, T . sp. nr. mwanzai produced more males than females. For all species tested, 011 favourable parasitism was between 18 and 25°C. The results from this study will be useful for mass rearing purposes as well as for future field release programmes.     

基于性信息素诱捕的广东草地贪夜蛾发生动态及多生物防治因子组合对其控制效果评价

采用性信息素诱捕器对广东省佛山市、茂名市、韶关市和梅州市的草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda发生动态进行监测;以清水作为空白对照,以20%氯虫苯甲酰胺为药剂对照,评价了螟黄赤眼蜂Trichogramma chilonis、螟黄赤眼蜂+苏云金杆菌、螟黄赤眼蜂+金龟子绿僵菌、螟黄赤眼蜂+莱氏绿僵菌、螟黄赤眼蜂+爪哇棒束孢菌、螟黄赤眼蜂+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒、螟黄赤眼蜂+蠋蝽、螟黄赤眼蜂+蠋蝽+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒这8种生防措施对玉米田草地贪夜蛾的防控效果。结果表明,草地贪夜蛾在所监测的4个地市全年均有发生,其中佛山监测点的草地贪夜蛾诱捕量高于其它3个监测点,并具有1个明显的发生高峰期（2019年10月中旬至11月中旬）,高峰期与玉米种植面积呈正相关。田间生防试验结果表明,单一释放螟黄赤眼蜂或与其他生防因子联合使用均对草地贪夜蛾有一定的控制作用,处理7 d后的防虫效果为54.87%~76.49%,其中以螟黄赤眼蜂+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒及螟黄赤眼蜂+蠋蝽+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒的防治效果最好,防效分别为76.49%及71.56%,但均低于氯虫苯甲酰胺的防虫效果（94.60%）;但14 d后,20%氯虫苯甲酰胺的防虫效果下降至78.51%,而螟黄赤眼蜂+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒及螟黄赤眼蜂+蠋蝽+甘蓝夜蛾核型多角体病毒的防效呈上升趋势,防效分别为81.31%与83.35%,具有较好的持续性与稳定性,是防治玉米草地贪夜蛾的理想生物防治组合。研究结果为了解广东草地贪夜蛾的发生规律及综合防控提供了相关科学依据与技术支撑。     

Host-foraging success of three species of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in a simulated retail environment

Three species of trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Trichogramma deion Pinto & Oatman, Trichogramma ostriniae Pang & Chen, and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions as potential biological control agents for the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on retail shelves. A single shelving unit was used in each trial and a grid of sentinel egg disks was used to evaluate foraging success. The shelving consisted of pallet units with five shelves that were either bare or stocked with empty cereal boxes. In each replicate, approximately 500 female Trichogramma were released at the center of the shelving unit and allowed to forage for 48 h. Percentage of egg parasitism and percentage of host egg mortality were recorded after 7 d. Foraging success as well as the spatial pattern of parasitism differed significantly among the three Trichogramma species. Percentage of egg parasitism was approximately 4 times greater for T. deion than for T. ostriniae or T. pretiosum. The vertical distribution of parasitism by T. deion was also more uniform than for the other two species. In addition, the presence of packaging affected the foraging efficiency of T. ostriniae and T. pretiosum but not T. deion. Based on these findings, Trichogramma deion may be the best-suited candidate for augmentative biological control of P. interpunctella in retail stores, and a central release point of T. deion will likely provide adequate coverage of products on pallet-type shelving.     

人工释放赤眼蜂对棉铃虫的防治作用及相关生态效应

1998～2000年在河北省南皮县棉区转Bt基因棉田及常规棉田中设置4种不同的组合处理,通过释放螟黄赤眼蜂控制棉铃虫的方法,减少化学农药的使用,达到提升和增强自然生物控制力的生态效应;并以不采取任何防治措施的常规棉田为常规棉对照田。研究表明：（1）转基因棉和常规棉棉田中自然寄生率随棉铃虫世代的增加而逐渐升高,2、3和4代棉铃虫卵被寄生率范围分别为13.3%～14.3%、26.7%～28.2%和60.8%～61.4%。（2）棉铃虫2代期,在常规棉综防田释放赤眼蜂2次,其寄生率为46.4%, 比未释放赤眼蜂的转基因棉棉田和常规棉对照田提高33.1%和32.1%; 3代期,转基因棉棉田释放赤眼蜂1次,其寄生率与常规棉综防田释放4次的效果相当,分别为73.7%和68.1%;但与转基因棉不放蜂田、常规棉化防田及对照田相比,分别提高45.5%、61. 8%和47.0%;4代期,无论放蜂与否,各处理棉田中的寄生率除化防田外（52.1%）均在60%以上。（3）常规棉化防田棉铃虫2代和3代期,分别使用农药2和3次,其自然寄生率分别为5.5%和11.9%,与对照田相比,分别降低8.8%和14.8%;与常规棉综防田相比,分别降低40.9%和56.2%;释放赤眼蜂的效果与施药时间有关,放蜂后1天内施药,寄生率仅为12.5%,施药后2天放蜂,寄生率达45.6%。（4）转基因棉棉田棉铃虫累计数和百株蕾铃被害数比常规棉综防田分别减少74.8%和73.8%,捕食性天敌增加63.0%;放蜂Bt棉田比不放蜂Bt棉田棉铃虫累计数、百株蕾铃被害数分别减少61.8%和33.3%;常规棉综防田棉铃虫累计数、百株蕾铃被害数、农药使用量比化防棉田分别减少29.7%、43.4%和60.0%,捕食性天敌数量增加63.0%。（5）转基因棉田和综防棉田的益害比（捕食性天敌/植食性害虫）分别为0.47∶1和0.30∶1, 而化防棉田为0.24∶1。上述结果表明释放赤眼蜂可弥补抗虫棉后期抗性减弱的不足,增加田间自然天敌的数量,提高对棉田害虫的自然控害功能。     

Effect of fertilized,unfertilized, and UV‐irradiated hosts on parasitism and suitability for Trichogramma parasitoids

Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitoids have been commonly used as biological control agents in insect pest management. Host quality is believed to influence parasitism, host preference, and suitability for parasitoids. To date, limited studies have compared the parasitism of Trichogramma parasitoids on fertilized, unfertilized, and sterilized host eggs. Hence, we studied the performance of three Trichogramma egg parasitoids, Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, and Trichogramma leucaniae Pang & Chen, on fertilized, unfertilized, and ultraviolet (UV)‐irradiated fertilized (UVF) eggs of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In a no‐choice test, T. japonicum and T. leucaniae parasitized significantly more fertilized or UVF than unfertilized hosts, and T. chilonis parasitized significantly more UVF than either fertilized or unfertilized hosts. In a choice test, all three Trichogramma parasitoids parasitized UVF hosts the most, and unfertilized hosts the least. There were similar percentages of adult emergence and female progeny among fertilized, unfertilized, and UVF hosts for all three Trichogramma parasitoids, except that T. japonicum had significantly lower adult emergence on fertilized hosts. We also found that all three Trichogramma parasitoids developed slower on unfertilized hosts. Regardless of host treatments, T. leucaniae had the longest developmental time and T. chilonis had the shortest. We conclude that Trichogramma parasitoids prefer parasitizing UVF eggs of C. cephalonica without negative effects on their emergence and sex allocation.     

Response of Trichogramma egg parasitoids to colored sticky traps

The response of Trichogramma spp. egg parasitoids to colored sticky traps was evaluated in the field during two seasons (1995/1996, 1996/1997). Traps consisted of a glass tube coated with Bird-Tanglefoot® into which colored paper was inserted or clear traps without paper. Colors tested were white, green, blue, yellow and red in the first season and white, green, yellow and black in the second season. The proportion of both female and male parasitoids caught on the sticky traps was significantly different among colors, indicating that the parasitoids actively move between plants and are not solely carried along passively by wind. White was the color most preferred by female parasitoids, followed by clear and green traps. Yellow was preferred over black but was less attractive than green. Visual cues may be used by Trichogramma spp. during the habitat location process. The color preference of male Trichogramma spp. differed significantly from females with yellow and green being more attractive than white. For all colors, more female Trichogramma spp. were caught on the sticky traps (>85% of all wasps caught), indicating a lower activity level and/or shorter lifespan for males. The use of white cylindrical sticky traps for monitoring Trichogramma spp. populations in the field is recommended.     

Do sympatric Trichogramma species parasitize the pest insect Helicoverpa armigera and the beneficial insect Chrysoperla carnea in different proportions?

Parasitism of two host species by five Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) was studied in the laboratory. The host species were: i) the bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), an important pest of many crops in the tropics and subtropics, and ii) one of its natural enemies, the lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), a predator often used as a biological control agent. The proportion of H. armigera eggs parasitized from the total number of parasitized hosts differed between Trichogramma species. The average number of parasitized eggs per female in 24 h by Trichogramma pintoi and T. bourarachae was 10 of H. armigera and about 0.5 of C. carnea. For the other three Trichogramma species (T. cordubensis, T. evanescens and T. turkestanica) these averages varied from 6 to 11 H. armigera eggs and from 3 to 4 C. carnea eggs. Total adult offspring production, contacts with hosts, secondary clutch size and sex-ratio of each Trichogramma species were determined as well. The results show that sympatric Trichogramma may parasitize target and non-target species in different proportions. If this difference corresponds to the field situation, simple laboratory tests could be performed to select not only efficient biogical control agents, but also species which are the least detrimental to non-target hosts.     

Possible incompatibility between transgenic cottons and parasitoids

Abstract  We investigated the rates of egg and larval parasitism in transgenic and non-transgenic, conventional cottons. Sentinel eggs and larvae of the cotton bollworm, CBW, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, were released and collected at regular intervals across the cotton growing season, and the relationship between parasitism and different cotton cultivars determined. Egg and larval parasitism were significantly lower in the transgenic cottons than in the non-transgenic conventional cottons. The egg parasitoid recovered was Trichogramma confusum Viggiani and the predominant larval parasitoids were Campoletis chlorideae Uchida and Meteorus pulchriconis (Wesmael). Our studies indicate a potential negative interaction between transgenic cottons and parasitoids of CBW but need to be interpreted with caution because no within-year replication was used and treatments were not spatially randomised across years.     

转基因棉花对棉铃虫天敌寄生率的影响

采用分期接虫、分期回收法研究常规棉与转基因棉花品种 (系 )上棉铃虫寄生性天敌在不同棉花品种上的寄生作用。结果表明 ,无论是第 2代棉铃虫发生期间还是第 3 ,4代棉铃虫发生期间 ,无论是棉铃虫卵期还是幼虫期 ,转基因棉花品种 (系 )的棉铃虫卵、幼虫寄生率均显著低于常规棉花品种上的寄生率。棉铃虫卵期寄生蜂主要是拟澳洲赤眼蜂 ,幼虫寄生蜂为棉铃虫齿唇姬蜂等。由此看出转基因棉对棉铃虫寄生性天敌存在非亲和性。     

Trends in integrated pest management strategies for the control of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) caterpillars on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A study was carried out at the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan to integrate different control measures against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) on chickpea, to minimize the use of hazardous insecticides and develop an eco-friendly management program. Cultural (weeding), mechanical (hand picking), biological (release of Trichogramma chilonis ), microbial (spraying of Bacillus thruingiensis ) and chemical (Steward) control practices were applied three times at 10 day intervals individually and also in various combinations. The application of Steward proved most effective when applied alone, with 0.41 larvae/plant, pod infestation of 9.31% and the highest grain yield (1203.66 g/plot); however, the integration of weeding, hand picking and Steward proved to be the most effective in reducing the larval population (0.12 larvae/plant) with minimum pod infestation (5.45%) on variety CM-2000, which resulted in the maximum grain yield (1260.33 g/plot). The cost–benefit ratio in the treatment where Steward was applied alone was 1:2.20, and it was 1:3.53 where weeding and hand picking practices were integrated.     

Development of endosulfan tolerant strain of an egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

A strain of T. chilonis, an egg parasitoid of lepidopteran pests tolerant to the most commonly used cyclodiene insecticide--endosulfan was developed in the laboratory. Tolerance to endosulfan was induced by exposing adult parasitoids sequentially from a sub-lethal concentration (0.004%) to the field recommended concentration (0.09%). The strain acquired tolerance to the insecticide after 341 generation of continuous exposure with LC50 values of 1074.96 ppm as compared to LC50 of (70.91 ppm) in susceptible strain. The genetical study showed that F1 crosses exhibited a semi-dominant response to endosulfan with degree of dominance value (D) of 0.58. The resistant factor of tolerant strain was 15.1 folds and of F1 cross were 8.53 folds over susceptible strain. Under net house conditions, the tolerant strain parasitised 56% Helicoverpa armigera eggs on potted cotton plants immediately after an insecticide spray, compared to 3% by the susceptible strain. High percentage survival of the immature stages of the tolerant strain proved their ability to withstand the insecticide load. Breakdown of insecticide tolerance in the strain occurred after four generations in absence of insecticide load. Use of the tolerant strain as a component of bio-intensive IPM in various crops where insecticide use is higher is discussed.