Evaluation of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as Parasitoid of the Sarsina violascens Herrich-Schaeffer (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Abstract

This is the first report on the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis, genus Eulophidae, found in the field parasitizing pupae of defoliating eucalyptus. Lepidopterous pests occur in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, reaching high population levels. Due to the complexity of pest control in eucalyptus forests, alternative control methods have been proposed, for instance biological control through use of parasitoids. Natural enemies play an important role in regulating host populations because their larvae feed on the eggs, larvae, pupae or adults of other insects. The parasitic Hymenoptera are important agents in biological control programs against forest pests, and may provide economic and environmental benefits. The generalist endoparasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) can develop in its host's pupae, which overcome the host's physiology and can therefore be used for biological control of agricultural and forest pests. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of P. elaeisis as a pupal parasitoid of S. violascens in providing a potential alternative to chemical control of the pest and creation of an alternative host. The experiment was developed in the Laboratory for Biological Control of Forest Pests, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho". Parasitoids used in this test were originally collected on pupae of E. eucerus. (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) in eucalyptus plantations at Lençois Paulistas, São Paulo state, Brazil, in 2011. Thereafter, a laboratory culture has been maintained, using pupae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lep.: Noctuidae) as hosts. S. violascens eggs were collected in a eucalyptus clonal plantation in Sao Paulo state (Brazil). Larvae were reared under ambient conditions on Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake (Myrtaceae) leaves. The following parameters were determined: parasitism level, numbers of emerged and non-emerged parasitoids and duration of egg-adult cycle. The S. violascens pupae were dissected to evaluate the non-emerged parasitoids. The parasitism level reached 100%, with a 100% emergence rate. It was www.ccsenet.org/jps

Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Parasitism of Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Eggs Under Different Temperatures

“…Moreover, the sex ratio of P. elaeisis in T. arnobia pupae was higher than in Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), likely due to differences in nutritional value, physiological barriers, and defense capacity of S. violascens pupae (Zaché et al 2012). A decrease in sex ratio as a function of host species may reduce the efficacy of P. elaeisis parasitism, because parasitism is maximized when a large number of females is produced .…”

“…Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizes and develops in Lepidoptera pupae of the families Arctiidae , Bombycidae , Crambidae (Bittencourt & Berti-Filho 2004;Chichera et al 2012), Lymantriidae (Tavares et al 2011;Zaché et al 2012), Muscidae (Zaché et al 2013), Noctuidae (Bittencourt & Berti-Filho 2004;Andrade et al 2010;Pereira et al 2013), Nymphalidae (Tavares et al 2013a), Notodontidae (Zanuncio et al 2015), Papilionidae (Tavares et al 2013b), and Saturniidae ; it also develops in Coleoptera pupae of the family Tenebrionidae . Furthermore, this parasitoid was recorded in pupae of Thyrinteina arnobia Stoll and Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), which characterizes it as a potential biological control agent in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations .…”

Foraging Activity ofPalmistichus elaeisis(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) at Various Densities on Pupae of the Eucalyptus DefoliatorThyrinteina arnobia(Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

“…Palavras Chave: controle biológico; lagarta do eucalipto; parasitismo; parasitoide de pupa Parasitoids are important natural enemies for the equilibrium of agroecosystems because they have high species and hosts diversity (Oliveira et al 2000;Pratissoli et al 2005). Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizes and develops in Lepidoptera pupae of the families Arctiidae (Pereira et al 2008), Bombycidae (Pereira et al 2010), Crambidae (Bittencourt & Berti-Filho 2004;Chichera et al 2012), Lymantriidae (Tavares et al 2011;Zaché et al 2012), Muscidae (Zaché et al 2013), Noctuidae (Bittencourt & Berti-Filho 2004;Andrade et al 2010;Pereira et al 2013), Nymphalidae (Tavares et al 2013a), Notodontidae (Zanuncio et al 2015), Papilionidae (Tavares et al 2013b), and Saturniidae (Pereira et al 2008); it also develops in Coleoptera pupae of the family Tenebrionidae (Zanuncio et al 2008). Furthermore, this parasitoid was recorded in pupae of Thyrinteina arnobia Stoll and Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), which characterizes it as a potential biological control agent in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations (Pereira et al 2008(Pereira et al , 2011.…”

Palmistichus elaeisis(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Parasitizing Pupae ofHypsipyla grandella(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…1) is a generalist and gregarious endoparasitoid of lepidopteran and coleopteran pupae (Menezes et al 2012 (Delvare & LaSalle 1993;Bittencourt & Berti Filho 1999;Pereira et al 2008;Zanuncio et al 2008;Soares et al 2009;Zaché et al 2012).…”