RETRACTED ARTICLE: Efficacy of inundative releases of Trichogramma evanescens in controlling Lobesia botrana in vineyards in Egypt

The present work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens (Westwood) in controlling the European grape berry moth Lobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) in two vineyards, in El-Beheira and El-Gharbia Governorates, northern Egypt during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. T. evanescens was mass produced on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) eggs in National Research Center in Egypt. The horizontal and vertical searching activity of T. evanescens was studied to determine the proper way of distributing the Trichogramma cards in vineyards in 2004. Field experiments were also conducted to evaluate inundative releases of T. evanescens to control L. botrana on large scale in 2005. Parasitism by T. evanescens on L. botrana eggs was greatly affected with the horizontal or vertical distance from the release points. Parasitism reached over 97% and reduction percents of infestation were caused by the pest reached 96.8% in treated plots. A significant increase in the crop was achieved in treated plots. The results showed that the release cards should be distributed in every three grape rows and on height 130–170 cm to obtain good parasitism rates. T. evanescens could be a potential candidate for biological control of L. botrana in vineyards.