Egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armyworm<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera exigua</Emphasis> on maize in Turkey

The present study was conducted to determine egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armywormSpodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is an important but sporadic pest in Turkey. High beet armyworm population levels were recently observed in fields of first and second crop maize in the southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey. The parasitoid species complex and its impact on the pest were analyzed in a 4-year study in first and second crop maize. The braconid larval parasitoidsMicroplitis rufiventris Kokujev,M. tuberculifer Wesmael,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Chelonus obscuratus (Herrich Schäffer) (an egg-larval parasitoid),Apanteles ruficrus (Haliday); the ichneumonid larval parasitoidsHyposoter didymator (Thunberg) andSinophorus xanthostomus Gravenhorst; and the egg parasitoidTrichogramma evanescens (Westwood) were found to be the natural enemies attacking the pest. Among the parasitoid species the solitary endoparasitoidH. didymator was the most prevalent species, being reared from 40.5% of the parasitized larvae found. Higher parasitism rates were recorded on first crop than on second crop maize in every year. Possible reasons for this difference in larval parasitism between two growing seasons include lower population of the pest and reduced insecticide applications in first crop maize fields which permitted higher parasitism. However, parasitoid activity was insufficient to counterbalance the population growth of the pest on subsequent second crop maize.     

Phenology and impact of natural enemies associated with the hop looper (Hypena humuli) in Washington State,USA

The hop looper, Hypena humuli Harris (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is becoming an increasingly important pest of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) (Rosales: Cannabaceae) in western USA. Currently, control of this pest usually involves broad-spectrum pesticides that kill natural enemies and disrupt biological control of other hop pests. In order to develop better management strategies for H. humuli, field and laboratory studies were conducted over a four-year period to identify the pest's natural enemies and to investigate their phenologies and to assess their impact. Nine parasitoid species and assorted species of invertebrate predator were found to attack different life-stages of H. humuli. Levels of parasitism were consistently low throughout the study period and none of the parasitoids found was a specialist natural enemy of the pests. Exclusion cage studies showed, however, that the complex of natural enemies as a whole can significantly reduce larval densities of the pest, and laboratory studies confirmed successful predation of H. humuli larvae by several generalist predators including the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.), the damsel bug Nabis alternatus Parshley and two species of the geocorid bug genus Geocoris.     

Introduction of exotic parasitic wasps for the control of Liriomyza trifolii (Dipt., Agromyzidae) in Senegal

Abstract

Liriomyza trifolii Burgess had first been reported from Senegal in 1980. Field surveys in 1982 revealed its presence in all vegetable growing areas of the country, heaviest damage being registered in the Cap Vert. Five indigenous eulophids (larval parasitoids) plus five other rare parasitoids, frequently parasitized over 90% of the flies. These rates were higher in insecticide free fields, and very much above the 30–40% reported for 1981. The most important parasitoids were Hemiptarsensus semialbiclava (Girault), which dominated in the second half of the dry season, and two Chrysonotomyia spp., which were more abundant in the rainy season. Surveys for exotic parasitoids indicated Diaulinopsis callichroma Crawford from Trinidad to be a promising species for introduction in the New World. This parasitoid, together with eight other chalcidoids (mostly larval parasitoids) and two braconids (larval‐pupal parasitoids), were collected in the field or received from established insectary cultures. They were studied and shipped for rearing and release in Senegal. Nine species were released at the end of 1982 and in 1983. Many were recovered shortly after release, but only Opius dissitus Muesebeck was recovered in later samples and became relatively abundant.     

Valuation of gamma irradiation for proficient production of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae & Eucoilidae) in the management of the peach fruit-fly,Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

Recognizing the potential significance of using nuclear techniques in biological control, investigations were conducted on the rearing of parasitoids of the peach fruit-fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to lead to a greater flexibility in the use of irradiated hosts. For improving mass production of the biological control agents, the use of irradiated fruit-fly larvae at the dose of 15 Gy proved useful for enhancing the parasitism and adult emergence of the larval parasitoid, Trybliographa daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae) due to no negative repercussions on parasitoid development. Overall, parasitism by the parasitoid increased with age of the host larvae; however, significantly higher parasitism occurred on 4 d-old irradiated larvae of B. zonata compared to those aged 5 d. The female parasitoids preferred the irradiated larvae, and significantly higher numbers of larvae were parasitized compared with non-irradiated larvae. There was no significant difference in adult parasitoid emergence with respect to the sex of the host. A radiation level of 80 Gy was the best dose for rearing of the pupal parasitoid, Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) owing to broad tolerances in the use of irradiation for the rearing of fruit-fly's parasitoids. Percentage parasitism by D. giffardii varied with host pupal age, and the preference of the female parasitoid was lower on 48 h old host pharate pupae due to optimum size and mass of host. Present findings further revealed that the 24 h old host pupae of B. zonata were relatively more suitable for the maximum parasitism and progeny production of D. giffardii. Parasitisms by D. giffardii and T. daci were significantly higher on B. zonata host when parasitoids were released at a density of 3000 individuals per acre (7500 per hectares) than the other release rates of parasitoids for the management of fruit-flies in mango orchards. The implementation of these findings ought to help improve the mass production of parasitoids and the effectiveness of releases of biocontrol agents for control of B. zonata in mango plantations.     

宁波地区小菜蛾幼虫期和蛹期寄生蜂调查

小菜蛾Plutella xylostella是十字花科蔬菜最重要的世界性害虫,保护和利用寄生性天敌是控制小菜蛾的重要手段。为有效控制小菜蛾在蔬菜上的为害,减少农药用量,作者于2007年4月至2009年1月对宁波地区小菜蛾幼虫期和蛹期主要寄生性天敌种类及其田间自然被寄生率进行了调查。结果表明,宁波地区十字花科蔬菜上小菜蛾幼虫期和蛹期共有8种原寄生蜂（菜蛾盘绒茧蜂Cotesia vestalis、螟蛉盘绒茧蜂Cotesia ruficrus、颈双缘姬蜂Diadromus col-laris、东方长颊姬蜂Macromalon orientale、棉铃虫齿唇姬蜂Campoletis chlorideae、无脊大腿小蜂Brachymeria excarinata、齿唇姬蜂Campoletissp.、弯尾姬蜂Diadegmasp.）、1种兼性寄生蜂（菜蛾啮小蜂Oomyzus sokolowskii）和5种重寄生蜂（盘背菱室姬蜂Mesochorus discitergus、粘虫广肩小蜂Eurytoma verticillata、稻灿金小蜂Trichomalopsis oryzae、绒茧灿金小蜂Trichomalopsis apanteloctena和啮小蜂Tetrastichussp.）,其中优势种为菜蛾啮小蜂和菜蛾盘绒茧蜂,分别占62.23%和31.19%,同时,小菜蛾幼虫期田间自然被寄生率普遍高于蛹期。另外,菜地蔬菜品种的多样性有利于寄生蜂的保护和利用。     

Integrated management of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> in chickpea in rainfed areas of Punjab,Pakistan

The pod borer Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important insect pest of chickpea and several other crops in Asia, Africa and Australia. The present studies were carried out on integration of various practices for the management of H. armigera in Punjab, Pakistan, during 2004-05. Chickpea variety ‘CM-2000’ was selected for evaluating various strategies such as cultural, mechanical, biological, microbial, and chemical control, individually and in various possible combinations, for the management of H. armigera at three different locations. Integration of weeding, hand picking and indoxacarb (an oxadiazine insecticide) proved to be the most effective in reducing the larval population and pod infestation and resulted in the maximum grain yield. The larval population of the combined effect of these practices was not significantly different from hand picking + indoxacarb, weeding + indoxacarb, and indoxacarb alone. Hand picking in combination with Bacillus thuringiensis, and weeding + hand picking, also controlled the larval population significantly, but was inferior to the above treatments. The release of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) did not control H. armigera. It was concluded on the basis of the cost — benefit ratio that hand picking was the most cost-effective method for the control of H. armigera, while the maximum increase in grain yield was obtained in plots with weeding, hand picking, and indoxacarb.     

Studies on Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid, Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Survey studies of Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) were made in 4 provinces; namely Adana, Mersin, Hatay and Osmaniye, which are the main citrus growing areas of the East Mediterranean region of Turkey. Inoculative parasitoid releases were made in regions where no or low natural parasitism occurred after obtaining preliminary results on presence of the parasitoid. The population dynamics of A. floccosus and C. noacki were examined in Silifke (Mersin), Dörtyol (Hatay) and Yüreir (Adana), where the A. floccosus population was remarkably high at the beginning of the study in 1999. However, after parasitoid release, the pest population declined in all the sites and did not attain the same high levels again. Five predators, three parasitoids and one entomopathogen species were determined as natural enemies of A. floccosus. In addition, seven plant species, six of them belong to Rutaceae, were found as host plants for A. floccosus.     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

Studies on Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid, Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Survey studies of Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) were made in 4 provinces; namely Adana, Mersin, Hatay and Osmaniye, which are the main citrus growing areas of the East Mediterranean region of Turkey. Inoculative parasitoid releases were made in regions where no or low natural parasitism occurred after obtaining preliminary results on presence of the parasitoid. The population dynamics of A. floccosus and C. noacki were examined in Silifke (Mersin), Dörtyol (Hatay) and Yüreir (Adana), where the A. floccosus population was remarkably high at the beginning of the study in 1999. However, after parasitoid release, the pest population declined in all the sites and did not attain the same high levels again. Five predators, three parasitoids and one entomopathogen species were determined as natural enemies of A. floccosus. In addition, seven plant species, six of them belong to Rutaceae, were found as host plants for A. floccosus.     

First report of Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) an exotic parasitoid on the Neotropical Whitefly Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in India

The Neotropical palm infesting whitefly, Aleurotrachelus atratus Hempel (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a highly invasive pest that was reported during 2019 on coconut in India. In a short span of time, it spread rapidly across states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on coconut, oil palm and many other ornamental palm plants. During the recent survey, the immature stages of A. atratus were found parasitized by an aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia cubensis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). These parasitoids were identified by their morphological characteristics and also characterized by DNA barcoding of adult parasitoids using partial (658 bp) mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene (GenBank accession number ON881119). This is the first report on occurrence of Encarsia cubensis as primary parasitoids on A. atratus in India and its natural parasitism ranged from (46–68%) on coconut across the different locations in Karnataka. It is believed that the parasitoid likely entered India along with A. atratus in India and constitutes a potential biological agent against A. atratus. It is expected that the E. cubensis population will become fully established, increase, spread and exert a significant impact on A. atratus population in India. Therefore, efforts may be made by growers and other stakeholders to increase the rate of natural parasitism through inundative, conservation and classical biological control approaches to reduce the pest population, crop damage and yield loss.

     

核型多角体病毒与中红侧沟茧蜂对寄主棉铃虫的联合效应

为明确寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator与核型多角体病毒（nucleopolyhedrovirus,NPV）对寄主棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的联合效应,测量中红侧沟茧蜂和NPV单处理及复合处理后棉铃虫幼虫的形态学指标,并统计棉铃虫幼虫死亡率及寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂子代存活率。结果显示,处理3 d和5 d后,中红侧沟茧蜂和NPV单处理及复合处理的棉铃虫幼虫体长、体宽、头壳宽度、体重均显著低于对照,但各处理之间差异不显著。接入浓度为2.5×10⁴ OBs/mL和2.5×10⁶ OBs/mL NPV时,中红侧沟茧蜂和NPV这2种生防因子对棉铃虫均表现为拮抗效应或累加效应。接入浓度为2.5×10⁴ OBs/mL NPV时,先寄生后接毒和先接毒后寄生处理的棉铃虫实际死亡率分别为4.35%和14.26%;接入浓度为2.5×10⁶ OBs/mL NPV时,棉铃虫实际死亡率则分别为31.55%和94.19%,先接毒后寄生处理的棉铃虫实际死亡率均显著高于先寄生后接毒处理的实际死亡率。接入浓度为2.5×10⁶ OBs/mL NPV时,先寄生后接毒和先接毒后寄生处理的寄生蜂子代存活率分别为54.51%和3.71%,前者显著高于后者。表明中红侧沟茧蜂寄生和NPV侵染均能显著抑制棉铃虫的生长发育,但两者联合应用时拮抗效应明显且对寄生蜂子代有影响,同时用于生物防治棉铃虫时应谨慎。     

多杀菌素对菜蛾绒茧蜂的致死和亚致死效应

以对多杀菌素高抗的小菜蛾纯合子品系作寄主饲养菜蛾绒茧蜂,用多杀菌素田间推荐使用浓度(25 mg/L)分别处理处于卵期、幼虫期和蛹期的绒茧蜂,其中卵期和幼虫期通过处理寄主幼虫间接处理,并测定该药剂对成虫的毒力,系统观察该杀虫剂对绒茧蜂各虫期的致死和亚致死作用。与对照相比,绒茧蜂卵期或幼虫期其寄主受药后,可导致蜂幼虫死于寄主体内或啮出寄主的过程中,使结茧化蛹率下降43% ~56%,成虫羽化率下降19% ~33%,成蜂雌性比下降11% ~25%,而成虫大小、寿命和寄生力未受显著影响;在蛹期受药使成虫羽化率下降10%,成蜂寿命缩短,但对成虫寄生力无显著影响;对成虫24 h的LC99为4.31 mg/L。结果表明,多杀菌素可进入寄主作用于其体内的蜂卵和幼虫,或直接作用于蜂蛹和成虫,从而对绒茧蜂各个虫态产生显著的致死和亚致死效应,尤以对成虫高毒。     

Leafminers in vegetables,ornamental plants and weeds in Indonesia: Surveys of host crops,species composition and parasitoids

Extensive surveys of vegetable, ornamental and weedy plant species were conducted in highland and lowland vegetable production areas in Indonesia with the aim of recording leafminer species present and their associated natural enemies. The most common dipterous species reared from samples was the pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae). This introduced pest was particularly serious in highland vegetables in Java, Sumatra and South Sulawesi, causing yield losses as high as 60-70%. Another alien species, the vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard, contributed to problems in lowland areas on the north coast of West Java, where cucumbers were heavily damaged. An Asian leafminer species, Chromatomyia horticola Goureau, was more common in snow peas (Pisum sp.). Intensive sampling of leafminer-infested leaves from surveyed host plants yielded 11 species of hymenopteran parasitoids: 10 eulophids (Asecodes sp., Chrysocharis sp., Cirrospilus ambiguus (Hansson and LaSalle), Closterocerus sp., Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood), Neochrysocharis sp., Pnigalio sp., Quadrastichus sp., Zagrammosoma sp.) and 1 eucoilid (Gronotoma sp.). The most abundant parasitoid species was H. varicornis. Levels of parasitism varied among crops and growing seasons, but were usually low, especially on potato (< 3%). Surveys revealed that most farmers (63%) attempted to control leafminers by applying insecticides twice weekly although these applications were neither effective nor economical according to responses of about 72% of the farmers. An integrated pest management approach is suggested that emphasizes IPM training for vegetable farmers and includes reductionor elimination of broad spectrum chemicals that would adversely affect parasitoids that may already be present as well as those that may be introduced. The initiation of a classical biological control programme is recommended to enhance the limited parasitoid complex present in Indonesia and increase levels of biological control.     

Species composition, structure and impact of larval parasitoids of poplar twig borer,Gypsonoma aceriana (Dup.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), on poplar ornamental trees in Sofia

Studies on the species composition and structure of parasitoid complex of poplar twig borer,Gypsonoma aceriana (Dup.), on poplar ornamental trees in Sofia and their role in reducing the number of this pest have been conducted during the period 1990–1997. Six larval parasitoids—Bracon variator Nees,Orgilus obscurator (Nees),Microdus tumidulus Nees,Apanteles erevanicus Tob. (Braconidae),Pristomerus rufiabdominalis Ucida andPristomerus vulnerator (Panz.) (Ichneumonidae) were identified. Most numerous wereM. tumidulus (41.0%),A. erevanicus (30.6%) andP. rufiabdominalis (19.1%).A. erevanicus andM. tumidulus were dominating during the different years. The parasitoids ofG. aceriana were solitary, asB. variator is an ektoparasite, and the rest—endoparasites. They attack young host larvae and emerge at the end of the pupal stage. The life cycle of parasitoids, that have double generation, are well synchronised with the pest development. This was expressed in the high levels of parasitism, which in some cases reached 61.5%, and as a whole for the different generations they were 5.9–44.4%.A. erevanicus andM. tumidulus were the most important in reducing the number of the pest.     

Contribution of Biological Control to Integrated Pest Management of Tephritid Fruit Flies in the Tropics and Subtropics

The biological control of pest tephritid flies using parasitoids has been successful in relatively few subtropical and tropical regions. The best documented successes were in Hawaii and Florida, USA, Fiji and southern Europe. There were relatively limited successes in Australia, Costa Rica and Mexico. With the accidental establishment of new pest tephritids, such as Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) in Hawaii or Bactrocera papayae Drew and Hancock in Australia, foreign exploration for new parasitoids is essential. A renewal of interest in classical biological control has recently occurred, although not at the same level as in the 1940s and 1950s. New parasitoid species are currently being obtained for several tephritids, such as Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann), B. latifrons and Anastrepha suspensa (Loew). The advances in mass rearing and quality control technology for parasitoids has enabled researchers to perform large-scale field testing of these parasitoids to determine the potential of augmentative releases. Numerous studies on the augmentative release of parasitoids have been done. Historically, the larval—pupal parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) has been the most frequently studied parasitoid, due to the ease of rearing this species. However, recent successes in rearing other species with different biologies, e.g. the egg—pupal parasitoid Biosteres arisanus (Sonan), the gregarious eulophid, Tetrastichus giffardianus (Silvestri) and the pupal parasitoid, Coptera sp., will enable researchers to broaden the repertoire of parasitoid species for the future. Both successes and failures in augmentative releases have occurred. Without knowledge of the behavioural ecology of parasitoids, the reasons for success or failure can only be surmised. Recent research on the dispersal and host habitat finding of tephritid parasitoids will provide insights into improving augmentation and conservation strategies. The integrated pest management (IPM) of tephritid flies in the tropics has been less well-developed than research and programmes for tephritids in temperate zones. Significant emphasis is now being placed on the development of quarantine treatment methods that are environmentally sound; thus IPM will take a larger role. Several existing pest management strategies are reviewed which show the potential for compatibility with the activities of tephritid parasitoids. These include trap cropping, insecticides with selective toxicity to the target pests, mass trapping with parapheromones, the sterile insect technique and field sanitation.     

Insecticide selectivity to two species of Trichogramma in three different hosts, as determined by IOBC/WPRS methodology

BACKGROUND: The use of Trichogramma species is a potential key strategy in integrated pest management. However, its effectiveness depends on the use of chemicals that do not interfere with parasitism and parasite population growth. Here, a study was made of the effects of synthetic insecticides on Trichogramma pretiosum and Trichogramma exiguum in different hosts (Ephestia kuehniella, Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera frugiperda) and the influence of International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC/WPRS) methodology in selectivity studies using different Trichogramma species. The insecticides used were commercial formulations (triflumuron at a concentration of 0.2 mL L^?1 water, etofenprox at a concentration of 0.47 mL L^?1 water and endosulfan at a concentration of 7.5 mL L^?1 water); the control treatment consisted of distilled water. Eggs attached to cardboard cards were offered to parasitoids inside glass cages. Parasitised eggs, parasitism and adult emergence rates and parasitism reduction were evaluated. RESULTS: Endosulfan and etofenprox, classified as class‐4 toxic products, were extremely toxic to the parasitoids. Triflumuron, classified as a non‐toxic product, was selective to the parasitoids in eggs of all hosts. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology recommended by IOBC/WPRS influenced results regarding the use of different species of parasitoids, and the use of a single parasitoid species in their experiment is questionable. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hymenopteran Parasitoids on Fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Latin America and the Southern United States: Diversity, Distribution, Taxonomic Status and their use in Fruit Fly Biological Control

We first discuss the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of the Neotropics. Even though the emphasis is on Anastrepha parasitoids, we also review all the information available on parasitoids attacking flies in the genera Ceratitis, Rhagoletis, Rhagoletotrypeta, Toxotrypana and Zonosemata. We center our analysis in parasitoid guilds, parasitoid assemblage size and fly host profiles. We also discuss distribution patterns and the taxonomic status of all known Anastrepha parasitoids. We follow by providing a historical overview of biological control of pestiferous tephritids in Latin American and Florida (U.S.A.) and by analyzing the success or failure of classical and augmentative biological control programs implemented to date in these regions. We also discuss the lack of success of introductions of exotic fruit fly parasitoids in various Latin American countries. We finish by discussing the most pressing needs related to fruit fly biological control (classical, augmentative, and conservation modalities) in areas of the Neotropics where fruit fly populations severely restrict the development of commercial fruit growing. We also address the need for much more intensive research on the bioecology of native fruit fly parasitoids.     

Effect of the acylurea insect growth regulator teflubenzuron on the endo-larval stages of the hymenopteran parasitoids Cotesia plutellae and Diadegma semiclausum in a susceptible and an acylurea-resistant strain of Plutella xylostella

The toxicity of the acylurea, teflubenzuron, was assessed against larval stages of the hymenopteran parasitoids, Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov and Diadegma semiclausum Hellén in a susceptible laboratory strain and a teflubenzuron-resistant field strain of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. In fourth-instar hosts (L4), when both parasitoid species were in their final larval instar, teflubenzuron significantly (P < 0.05) reduced emergence of adult D. semiclausum but had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on C. plutellae, although a small proportion of the latter were unable to reproduce. Treatment of L4 hosts with teflubenzuron ( > LD₅₀) had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the fecundity of surviving females of D. semiclausum. Similar differential toxicity with teflubenzuron was observed in L2 hosts, when parasitoids were at the egg or early larval instar stage. There was no apparent increased effect of teflubenzuron on either species of parasitoid when highly resistant (c. 4000-fold) L2 hosts (field strain) were treated with concentrations of teflubenzuron two to three orders of magnitude greater than in equivalent experiments with the susceptible host strain. This suggests that host resistance to teflubenzuron confers some protection to both species of parasitoid. Uptake experiments with [¹⁴C]teflubenzuron showed that accumulation of radioactivity was much greater in D. semiclausum than in C. plutellae and this may account for the differential toxicity observed. The results are discussed in relation to the field status of these parasitoid species. The influence of insecticide resistance in the host on endo-larval parasitoids is also considered.     

宁夏麦蚜天敌多样性及种间关系

麦蚜是宁夏小麦的主要害虫,为了实现自然天敌对麦蚜的有效控制,采用网捕法和陷阱法等采集手段,通过3年田间调查,共鉴定麦蚜天敌97种,包括寄生性天敌16种和捕食性天敌81种。将麦蚜天敌划分为单食性天敌、寡食性天敌、多食性天敌及杂食性天敌共4类功能团进行分析,结果表明,不同天敌功能团对麦蚜种群的影响存在显著的交互作用;寄生性天敌中蚜茧蜂属的燕麦蚜茧蜂与烟蚜茧蜂是优势种;捕食性天敌种类较为复杂,不同地区麦蚜天敌组成存在显著性差异,复杂的农业景观能够维持更高的天敌多样性。表明在农业生态系统中建立和恢复非作物生境能够明显提高天敌种群数量,进而提高其生物防治作用。     

探索促进寄生蜂生殖力的蜜源植物共性特征

通过布局合适的蜜源植物,以提高农田生态系统的害虫防控服务,已成为一种常用的生境管理技术。然而,如何筛选理想的蜜源植物是保护生物防治中迫切需要解决的现实问题。本研究通过室内试验构建蜜源植物对寄生蜂寄生能力影响的数据库,分析了不同蜜源植物的效应值与寄生蜂和蜜源植物关键生态特征的相关性。结果表明,花序类型是筛选蜜源植物的最重要特征,其中复伞形花序植物的花对寄生蜂寄生能力的促进作用最显著,而花单生、头状花序和穗状花序植物的对寄生蜂寄生能力的促进作用不明显。赤眼蜂等微小型寄生蜂的生殖潜力的高低对其取食蜜源植物后的寄生能力影响不显著。寄生蜂的寄主类型、种群类型等不会影响蜜源植物对赤眼蜂的寄生能力。