Diversity of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in apple orchards of southern Quebec,Canada |
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| Authors: | Jose Fernández-Triana Henri Goulet Caroline Boudreault |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Integrative Biology, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario , University of Guelph , Ontario, Canada , N1G 2W1;2. Canadian National Collection of Insects and Nematodes, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada , K1A OC6;3. Canadian National Collection of Insects and Nematodes, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada , K1A OC6 |
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| Abstract: | This study reports the Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species collected from two blocks of apple trees from 1993 to 1994 in southern Quebec, Canada. The habitat management block (HMB) had companion flowering plants within the block, whereas the control had no flowering plants. Thirty-six Microgastrinae species were identified including three new records for Canada: Apanteles tischeriae Viereck, Cotesia crambi Weed, Diolcogaster bakeri Muesebeck. The number of microgastrine varied considerably between the two blocks and years. Species numbers were similar between the two blocks, but the Shannon diversity and Evenness similarity indices indicated that HMB had a more diverse and balanced population of Microgastrinae. Matching our microgastrine identifications with literature records showed that the wasps could potentially parasitize over one-third of the lepidopteran pests of apples and/or other lepidopteran species recorded within this agro-ecosystem. The inclusion of four Asteraceae companion plant species in the HMB enhanced the diversity of Microgastrinae. |
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| Keywords: | Microgastrinae Lepidoptera diversity parasitoid community apple orchards biological control flower and nectar resources |
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