Eggs of stored-product lepidoptera as hosts forTrichogramma evanescens [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae]

Abstract

Eggs were collected from Anagasta kiiehniella (Zeller), Ephest~a cautella (Walker), E. elutella, (Hiibner), E. figulilella (Gregson), and Plodia interpunctella (Hiibner) and exposed to adults of the egg parasite, Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, in a free choice experiment. Host eggs were ranked by decreasing percentages of parasitization as follows : E. elutella > E. cautella > E. figulilella > A. kiiehniella > P. interpunctella. Differences in percent parasitization were not significant between Ephestia spp., but A. kiiehniella and P. interpunctella were parasitized significantly less often. Average percentage egg hatch after exposure to Trichogramma ranged from 5.0 to 9.3 %, except for Plodia where it averaged 33.3 %. It appears that inundative releases of Trichogramrna into commodity storages could play an important role in suppression of stored-product moth populations.The use of polyphagous egg parasites in the genus Trichogramma for the control of various species of orchard and field crop Lepidoptera has received much attention (Parker & Pinnell, 1972 ; Ridgway & V'mson, 1977 ;Stinner, 1977). Very large numbers of Trichogramma adults are required for inundative releases to suppress established populations of moths in field crops or orchards. Methods of producing the large numbers of Trichogramma required are almost always dependent on use of a stored-product moth host, such as the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealetla (Olivier) (Grimm & Lawrence, 1975 ; Hassan, i981 ;Morrison et al., 1976) or the Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kfiehniella (Zeller) (Daumal et aL, 1975). Therefore, it is surprising that use of Trichogramma to control stored-product moth pests has not been suggested before.Several species of pyralid moths attack a wide variety of raw and processed, stored agricultural commodities. The most important of these pests are the Mediterranean flour moth (MFM), Anagasta (Ephestia) kfiehniella (Zeller) ; the almond moth (AM), Ephestia cautella (Walker) ; the tobacco moth (TM), E. elutella (Hiibner) ; the raisin moth (RM), E. figulilella (Gregson) ; and the Indian meal moth (IMM), Plodia interpunctella (Hiibner). These species usually cause the major weight loss in infested agricultural commodities and contribute significantly to loss in quality and value of commodities during storage. These species of moths are major targets of chemical control efforts, and therefore, they have developed very high levels of resistance to most of the commonly used pesticides and fumigants (Atria et al., 1981 ; Cl~amp, 1978 ; Zettler, 1982). For these reasons, a variety of biological control methods are being investigated to determine their potential as replacements for chemical pesticides. As part of this effort, the use of Trichogramma evanescens (Westwood) as a biological control agent for suppression 356 J.H. BROWER of stored-product pyralid moth populations is being evaluated. Although this parasite is known to attack a wide variety of field crop moths (Salt, 1935(Salt, , 1938(Salt, , 1940 and several sp...

Predatory abilities of Amphibolus venator (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), a predator of stored-product insect pests

“…Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) attack the larvae of stored product moths (Keever et al, 1985;Cline et al, 1986). Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) attacks the eggs of stored product moths (Brower, 1983). Peregrinator biannulipes Montrouzier et Signoret (renamed from Allaeocranum biannulipes) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), which is known as the assassin bug found in warehouses and under tree bark in tropical regions (Hill, 1990;Takahashi and Nishi, 2003), attacks the larvae or eggs of stored product insect pests (Awadallah and Afifi, 1990).…”

“…Biological control is thus being regarded with increasing interest, since it is nontoxic and does not damage human health or the environment. The use of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) has been studied by various researchers for storedproduct insect pests (Brower, 1983;Keever et al, 1985;Cline et al, 1986;Awadallah and Afifi, 1990;Wen and Brower, 1994;Donnelly and Phillips, 2001;Nishi and Takahashi, 2002).…”

Behavioural variation among strains of Trichogramma spp.: host‐species selection

“…Investigations were carried out in the laboratory (e.g. Brower, 1983;Fye & Larsen, 1969) as well as in the field (e.g. Ashley et al, 1974;Boldt et al, 1973), and preference was usually inferred from the numbers of hosts found parasitized.…”

Especies de Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitoides de huevos de Lepidópteros en el Estado Lara, Venezuela

“…Hassan (1997) indicó que varias especies del parasitoide han sido liberadas anualmente en más de 16 millones de hectáreas de cultivos anuales y perennes en contra de insectos plaga del orden Lepidoptera. La utilización de las especies de Trichogramma ha sido favorecida debido a la facilidad de realizar crías masivas en el laboratorio utilizando como hospederos los huevos de Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) (Brower 1983, Corrigan & Laing 1994.…”