Evaluation of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis; Homoptera: Aphididae) honeydew as a food source for the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Mass Rearing of Egg Parasitoids for Biological Control Programs

“…on apple, as compared to those fed only on water that lived only 1.2 days. Fuchsberg et al (2007) also observed that T. ostriniae fed on honeydew parasitized more and lived longer in relation to those fed only water (see Jervis et al 2005, Chapter 2 andWäckers et al 2008). …”

Genetically Modified Crops and Biological Control with Egg Parasitoids

“…Honeydew consumption enhances the longevity, and in some cases also the fecundity of parasitoids in the field, as well as in the laboratory, including of egg parasitoids (McDougall and Mills 1997, Romeis et al 2005, Fuchsberg et al 2007, Irvin et al 2007, Wäckers et al 2008). Thus, honeydews should be important for enhancing biological control by egg parasitoids, particularly where availability or access to other carbohydrate sources is limited.…”

“…Such trait changes are not rare and cannot be assumed inconsequential, so should be examined for their influence on GM crop-egg parasitoid interactions. It is tempting to predict, for example, that increased nectar and honeydew production should contribute to enhancing parasitism rates by egg parasitoids, particularly in light of evidence that both nectar and honeydew availability enhance biological control by and reproductive parameters of Trichogramma and other egg parasitoids (Treacy et al 1987, Heimpel and Jervis 2005, Romeis et al 2005, Fuchsberg et al 2007, Wäckers et al 2008. In other cases, however, negative impacts of phenotypic trait changes on egg parasitoids could be predicted, such as greater exposure to GM crop proteins if production of honeydew and nectar are enhanced; thus, the potential impacts of such trait changes should also be examined closely.…”

Trichogrammatids: Integration with Other Methods of Pest Control

“…Honeydew produced by corn leaf aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis affects the longevity and parasitism performance of T. ostriniae on Z ea mays . This is a within-fi eld food resource that may impact the success of augmentative control of O. nubilalis (Fuchsberg et al 2007 ).…”