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.     

Parasitism and predation of stink bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) eggs in Georgia corn fields

Nezara viridula L. and Euschistus servus (Say) are the predominant species of phytophagous stink bugs on corn, Zea mays L., in Georgia. Oebalus pugnax pugnax (F.) occurs in relatively low numbers, and the predatory stink bug Podisus maculiventris (Say) is commonly found. Limited information is available on natural biological control of these four stink bug species in Georgia corn fields; therefore, a 6-yr study of parasitism and predation of their eggs was initiated in 2003. Naturally occurring stink bug eggs were parasitized by six scelionid species, Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston), T. thyantae Ashmead, T. brochymenae (Ashmead), T. euschisti (Ashmead), Telenomus podisi Ashmead, Telenomus calvus Johnson, and one encyrtid species, Ooencyrtus sp. T. basalis was the most prevalent parasitoid of N. viridula, parasitizing E. servus and P. maculiventris eggs at low levels. T. podisi, the predominant parasitoid species emerging from eggs of E. servus and P. maculiventris, also parasitized O. p. pugnax eggs exclusively and parasitized N. viridula eggs at low levels. T. euschisti and T. thyantae parasitized E. servus egg masses. T. brochymenae parasitized eggs of both E. servus and P. maculiventris. T. calvus parasitized only P. maculiventris eggs. The same species of egg parasitoids that parasitized naturally occurring eggs of N. viridula and E. servus parasitized sentinel eggs of these bugs, except that no T. calvus and Ooencyrtus sp. were obtained from sentinel eggs, and T. thyantae and T. brochymenae emerged from sentinel eggs of N. viridula. Generally, parasitization of an egg mass was either greater than or equal to predation of sentinel eggs of N. viridula and E. servus. However, on some dates in late June and July, predation of sentinel egg masses was numerically approximately twice as high as parasitism. Results indicate stink bug egg parasitoids and predators are significant factors in the natural biological control of stink bugs in corn fields.     

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.     

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.     

Constitutive and inducible resistance to Atherigona soccata (Diptera: Muscidae) in Sorghum bicolor

Host plant resistance is one of the important components for minimizing the losses because of sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Diptera: Muscidae) attack. Therefore, we studied the constitutive and inducible biochemical mechanisms of resistance to A. soccata in a diverse array of sorghum genotypes to identify lines with diverse mechanisms of resistance to this insect. Fifteen sorghum genotypes with different levels of resistance to A. soccata were evaluated. Methanol extracts of 10-d old damaged and undamaged sorghum seedlings were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Association between peak areas of the identified and unidentified compounds with parameters measuring A. soccata resistance was determined through correlation analysis. Amounts of p-hydroxy benzaldehyde and the unidentified compounds at RTs 24.38 and 3.70 min were associated with susceptibility to A. soccata. Genotypes exhibiting resistance to A. soccata were placed in four groups, and the lines showing constitutive and/or induced resistance to A. soccata with different combinations of biochemical factors potentially could be used for increasing the levels of resistance to A. soccata in sorghum.     

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.     

假眼小绿叶蝉卵的寄生蜂种类及种群动态

通过田间采梢、室内镜下查卵和饲养观察,初步获得假眼小绿叶蝉Empoasca vitis Gthe卵寄生蜂2种,分别隶属于三棒缨小蜂属Stethynium sp.和裂骨缨小蜂属Schizophragma sp.,其中三棒缨小蜂属Stethyniumsp.是优势种。2种缨小蜂的寄生动态调查结果显示,除8月和12月寄生率较低外,其它月份的自然寄生率都在30%以上,特别是10~11月寄生率最高达65%,对小绿叶蝉的虫口数量具有重要控制作用,值得进一步研究和保护利用。     

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.     

3种赤眼蜂对甜菜夜蛾和小菜蛾卵的寄生功能反应

为评估稻螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead、螟黄赤眼蜂Trichogramma chilonis Ishii和玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua Hübner卵和小菜蛾Plutella xylostella Linnaeus卵的寄生潜能,本研究在室内条件下测试了3种赤眼蜂对不同密度甜菜夜蛾卵和小菜蛾卵的寄生率、寄生功能反应和搜寻效应。结果表明,稻螟赤眼蜂、螟黄赤眼蜂和玉米螟赤眼蜂对甜菜夜蛾卵和小菜蛾卵均有一定的寄生效应。螟黄赤眼蜂对甜菜夜蛾卵的寄生率、瞬间攻击率、寄生效能和搜寻效应均高于稻螟赤眼蜂和玉米螟赤眼蜂;3种赤眼蜂对小菜蛾卵的寄生率、瞬间攻击率、寄生效能和搜寻效应则表现为：稻螟赤眼蜂>螟黄赤眼蜂>玉米螟赤眼蜂。3种赤眼蜂对两种寄主的寄生功能反应均符合HollingⅡ型模型方程,表现为寄生量均随寄主卵密度的增加而升高,达到一定水平后趋于平稳。赤眼蜂的搜寻效应随寄主卵密度的增加而降低。综合分析可知,螟黄赤眼蜂对于甜菜夜蛾的控害能力优于稻螟赤眼蜂螟和玉米螟赤眼蜂,而稻螟赤眼蜂比螟黄赤眼蜂和玉米螟赤眼蜂更适合用于防控小菜蛾。     

The ability of selected pupal parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to locate stable fly hosts in a soiled equine bedding substrate

The ability of Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia endius Walker, and Muscidifurax raptorellus Kogan and Legner to locate and attack stable fly hosts was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Postfeeding third-instar stable fly larvae were released and allowed to pupate in two arena types: large 4.8 liter chambers containing a field-collected, soiled equine bedding substrate; or 120-ml plastic cups containing wood chips. At the time of fly pupariation, parasitoids were released and permitted 72 h to locate and attack hosts. On average, parasitism rates of freely accessible stable fly pupae in cups were not significantly different between parasitoid species. However, parasitism rates in chambers containing either Spalangia spp. were ≈50-fold more than M. raptorellus. Additional intraspecies analysis revealed that parasitism rates both by S. cameroni and S. endius were not significantly different when pupae were freely accessible or within bedding, whereas M. raptorellus attacked significantly more pupae in cups than in the larger chambers where hosts were distributed within bedding. These results suggest that Spalangia spp. are more suited to successfully locate and attack hosts in habitats created by equine husbandry in Florida. Therefore, commercially available parasitoid mixtures containing Muscidifurax spp. may be ineffective if used as a control measure at Florida equine facilities.     

Egg mortality in the cedar processionary moth,Thaumetopoea bonjeani (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), in an outbreak area of Algeria

The cedar processionary moth, Thaumetopoea bonjeani (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), is one of the most serious pests of Cedrus atlantica in north-western Africa (Algeria and Morocco). We report on T. bonjeani egg mortality and the diversity and abundance of parasitoids associated with its eggs in the area of Djurdjura Mountain (Tala-Guilef, Algeria). For this goal, 223 egg batches were collected from C. atlantica over two cohorts (2012 and 2013). The average number of eggs per egg batch increased from 143 in 2012 to 171 in 2013, while the egg mortality decreased from 47.4% and 23.9%, respectively, possibly because of a dilution effect. The most important factors of egg mortality were parasitoids and predators, with hymenopteran egg parasitoids killing from 12.1% to 34.9%, and predators from 5.2% to 7.4% of the eggs. The pattern of egg parasitism was driven largely by Ooencyrtus pityocampae, accounting for about 94% of the total parasitoids, followed by Baryscapus servadeii and Trichogramma embryophagum. An hyperparasitoid Chartocerus sp. was collected for the first time from eggs of Thaumetopoea species. As the two major egg parasitoids are shared with the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa in the same area, it is likely that parasitoid abundance may depend on the occurrence of both hosts.     

江淮棉区棉大卷叶螟主要寄生性天敌的寄生作用

通过大田调查与室内饲养观察结果表明,江淮棉区棉大卷叶螟Sylepta derogataFabricius的主要寄生蜂(蝇)有7种:卷叶螟绒茧蜂Apanteles derogatae(Watanabe)、叶卷蚁形蜂Goniozus japonicus(Ashmead)、卷叶螟姬小蜂Sympiesissp.、菲岛扁股小蜂Elasmus philippinensis(Ashmead)、广黑点瘤姬蜂Xanthopimplapunctata(Fabricius)、广大腿小蜂Brachymeria lasus(Walker)和玉米螟厉寄蝇Lydella grisescens(Robineau-Desvoidy)。其中,卷叶螟绒茧蜂和卷叶螟姬小蜂为棉大卷叶螟幼虫期优势寄生蜂种,广大腿小蜂为幼虫-蛹跨期优势寄生性天敌。自然情况下,棉大卷叶螟的被寄生率高达25.7%,寄生性天敌对棉大卷叶螟种群起着重要的控制作用。     

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.     

Effect of host switching on performance of mass‐reared Trichogramma minutum

The effect of host switching on parasitism by Trichogramma minutum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) (TM) was examined for parasitoids attacking a factitious host, the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (MFM), and a natural host, the eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) (SBW). Parasitoids that were switched from rearing on the natural host to rearing on the factitious host had lower realized fecundities on both MFM and SBW eggs than a control line that was maintained continuously on the natural rearing host, SBW eggs. Conversely, T. minutum reared on the factitious host and switched to rearing on the natural host showed greater realized fecundities. This increase in realized fecundity was lost in the first generation after switching parasitoids back to the factitious rearing host. T. minutum that were maintained on the natural rearing host (SBW eggs) showed more variation in realized fecundity and host acceptance of both MFM and SBW eggs, than parasitoids that were reared on MFM eggs.     

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。     

Delayed density-dependent parasitism of eggs and pupae as a contributor to the cyclic population dynamics of the autumnal moth

Many populations of forest Lepidoptera exhibit 10-year cycles in densities, with impressive outbreaks across large regions. Delayed density-dependent interactions with natural enemies are recognized as key factors driving these cyclic population dynamics, but emphasis has typically been on the larval stages. Eggs, pupae and adults also suffer mortality from predators, parasitoids and pathogens, but little is known about possible density relationships between mortality factors and these non-feeding life stages. In a long-term field study, we experimentally deployed autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) eggs and pupae to their natural enemies yearly throughout the 10-year population cycle in northern Norway. The abundance of another geometrid, the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), increased in the study area, permitting comparisons between the two moth species in predation and parasitism. Survival of autumnal moth eggs and pupae was related to the moth abundance in an inverse and delayed manner. Egg and pupal parasitoids dominated as density-dependent mortality factors and predicted the subsequent growth rate of the host population size. In contrast, effects of egg and pupal predators were weakly density dependent, and generally predation remained low. Parasitism rates did not differ between the autumnal and winter moth pupae, whereas predators preferred winter moth pupae over those of the autumnal moth. We conclude that parasitism of the autumnal moth by egg and pupal parasitoids can be related to the changes of the moth density in a delayed density-dependent manner. Furthermore, egg and pupal parasitoids cannot be overlooked as causal factors for the population cycles of forest Lepidoptera in general.     

多寄主型寄生蜂蝇蛹俑小蜂对新寄主的选择与适应性

【目的】明确多寄主型寄生蜂蝇蛹俑小蜂Spalangia endius对不同类型新寄主的偏好选择与适应性。【方法】选择分别以瓜实蝇Zeugodacus cucurbitae、南瓜实蝇Z.tau和家蝇Musca domestica的蛹为寄主饲养的蝇蛹俑小蜂成蜂,比较研究其对上述3种寄主中其他2种非饲养寄主的选择行为、寄生选择及适应性。【结果】与家蝇蛹相比,以瓜实蝇蛹为饲养寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂成蜂偏好选择和寄生南瓜实蝇蛹,且在南瓜实蝇蛹上产生更多的子代;以南瓜实蝇蛹为饲养寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂成蜂偏好选择和寄生瓜实蝇蛹,且在瓜实蝇蛹上产生更多的子代;而以家蝇蛹为饲养寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂成蜂对瓜实蝇蛹和南瓜实蝇蛹的选择数量以及在选择和非选择试验条件下的寄生率与子代数量上并无显著差异。此外,以瓜实蝇和南瓜实蝇蛹为饲养寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂成蜂分别更容易适应南瓜实蝇和瓜实蝇蛹。【结论】基于3种蝇的生态位关系,推测蝇蛹俑小蜂偏好选择和更容易适应与其饲养寄主有重叠生态位的新寄主。     

赤眼蜂防治小菜蛾适宜蜂种或品系的筛选(英文)

以控制小菜蛾为目的,在实验室对２９种赤眼蜂或品系进行了筛选。筛选评价根据５项指标：（１）能在小菜蛾卵上产卵的雌蜂比例,（２）每雌蜂寄生卵量,（３）子峰在每粒寄主上的存活率,（４）羽化率,和（５）子代性比。研究结果表明：有２３种赤眼蜂或品系能够寄生小菜蛾卵,但无论在种间还是品系间均存在很大差异。根据５项筛选指标综合评价,２９种中较好的为：前苏联的Ｔｒｉｃｈｏｇｒａｍｍａ ｔｒｊａｐｉｔｚｎｉ,美国的Ｔ．ｐｒｅｔｉｏｓｕｍ,法国的Ｔ．ｎａｇａｒｋａｔｔｉｉ,中国台湾的Ｔｒｉｃｈｏｇａｒａｍｍａｔｏｉｄｅａ ｂａｃｔｒａｅ,中国广东的Ｔ．ｃｈｉｌｏｎｉｓ和法国的一个种Ｔ．ｓｐ。其中美国的Ｔ．ｐｒｅｔｉｏｓｕｍ,中国台湾的Ｔｒｉｃｈｏｇａｒａｍｍａｔｏｉｄｅａ ｂａｃｔｒａｅ,中国广东的Ｔ．ｃｈｉｌｏｎｉｓ可以考虑作为大田防治小菜蛾的首选蜂种。田间筛选及大田验证试验正在进行之中。     

Constraints on the use of Trichogramma Egg Parasitoids in Biological Control Programmes in India

The use of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) egg parasitoids for the biological control of several insect pests, including the pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is being promoted in India. Several companies supply these parasitoids to farmers, but no evaluation of product quality has been made. Low product quality is recognized as being one of the most important reasons for the failure of these biocontrol agents. In this study, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii egg-cards were obtained from eight producers in southern India. Product quality was evaluated using the following parameters: number of eggs/card, percentage parasitism, percentage emergence, progeny sex ratio and percentage of deformed females. In addition, producers were asked for the average values of these parameters in their production systems and for their recommendations for the use of T. chilonis to control H. armigera in cotton. The quality of the egg-cards was highly variable and was much lower than that stated by the producers. The recommended frequency and interval of releases, and the number of parasitoids to be released, differed greatly among producers. The low product quality results in up to 85% fewer parasitoids being released than is recommended by the producer. The effect of the low product quality and the highly variable release recommendations on applied biological control programmes is discussed. Suggestions for more effective use of Trichogramma spp. are given.     

Abundances of five parasitoids attacking the scale insect <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nipponaclerda biwakoensis</Emphasis> on morphologically changed reed shoots due to damage by a stem-boring caterpillar

Abundances of the scale insect Nipponaclerda biwakoensis and its five parasitoids per shoot of the common reed, Phragmites australis, were compared between shoots damaged by a stem-boring caterpillar and undamaged shoots. Reed shoots that were damaged by the stem-borer in spring change morphologically during summer, inducing tillers from the nodes beneath the damaged part. The number of female scales per shoot did not differ significantly between damaged and undamaged shoots in the second scale generation (September), but was significantly lower on damaged shoots in the third generation (November). Three parasitoid species attacking the scale exhibited different responses to the shoot damage, with the response by each parasitoid being constant in the two scale generations: the parasitism rate by Aprostocetus sp. per shoot was higher on damaged shoots, whereas that by Astymachus japonicus was lower on damaged shoots, and no difference was detected for Boucekiella depressa. In the third scale generation, the parasitism rate by Encyrtidae sp. 1 showed no difference, with respect to shoot damage, whereas that by Encyrtidae sp. 2 was lower on damaged shoots. In three dominant parasitoids, shoot damage had no effect on the number of emerging adults per host, and the sex ratio and body size of the adults. The number of emerging adults per shoot differed significantly between damaged and undamaged shoots for four parasitoids, except B. depressa. These results suggest that shoot damage by the stem-borer exerts a delayed negative impact on the scale numbers and affects the parasitism rate of the scales by three parasitoids and the emerging adult numbers of four parasitoids.