The Effectiveness of Trichogramma chilonis,Trichogramma pretiosum and Trichogramma brasiliense (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as Parasitoids of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Redgram (Cajanus cajan)

The performance of three species of trichogrammatids on the pest, Helicoverpa armigera was evaluated in the laboratory and screenhouse conditions in Karnataka, India during 1996-97. Laboratory studies indicated that Trichogramma chilonis and Trichogramma pretiosum were more effective parasitoids of H. armigera than Trichogramma brasiliense. In screenhouse conditions, T. chilonis was the most effective parasitoid of H. armigera eggs on sunflower plants in comparison to the other two trichogrammatid species. When releasing 50?000 per ha on sunflower and redgram, T. chilonis parasitised 50.1 and 11.4% H. armigera eggs, respectively. The position of H. armigera eggs on different plant parts of sunflower had no effect on parasitism by T. chilonis. However, parasitism by the same trichogrammatid among different plant parts of redgram varied significantly. It parasitized 43.4 and 18.7% H. armigera eggs on leaves and flowers, respectively, and significantly fewer, 3.9%, on pods (P<0.05). The growth stage of redgram plants also had an effect on parasitism by T. chilonis, parasitism being extremely low on plants with pods.