Evaluation of Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as parasitoid of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Lepidopteran pests have occurred in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil since 1948, reaching high population levels, reducing tree growth and causing considerable losses in wood production. The control of defoliating caterpillars in eucalyptus forests is complex, mainly due to the large extent of forest plantations and tree height, necessitating the aerial application of chemical or biological insecticides. Due to this complexity, alternative control methods have been proposed, for instance biological control through the use of parasitoids. Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 is a gregarious pupal parasitoid that preferentially attacks species of the order Lepidoptera. This is the first report of T. diatraeae parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus Hewitson in Brazil. This parasitoid offers new perspectives for the biological control programmes of this species in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.

Thermal Requirements and Generation Estimates ofTrichospilus diatraeae(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Sugarcane Producing Regions of Brazil

“…The pupal parasitoid Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reported from species of various lepidopteran families, including Arctiidae (Zaché et al 2012), Geometridae (Pereira et al 2008; Zaché et al 2010;Pastori et al 2012), Nymphalidae (Bou ek 1976), Noctuidae (Paron & BertiFilho 2000), Oecophoridae (Oliveira et al 2005), Pieridae (Kazmi & Chauhan 2003), Pyralidae (Bennett et al 1987;Melo et al 2011) and Riodinidae (Zaché et al 2011). This natural enemy can also parasitize and develop in pupae of Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) (Paron & Berti-Filho 2000), indicating its potential for use in the biological control of this insect borer of sugar cane.…”

New Record of Trichospilus Diatraeae Margabandhu & Cherian, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Parasitizing Sarsina Violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Brazil

“…In 2010, parasitism of T. diatraeae was reported in a pupa of the eucalyptus defoliating looper Melanolophia consimilaria (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) a pest that pupates in the soil and Hypsipyla grandella family Pyralidae pest of Swietenia macrophylla (Zaché et al 2010a;Zaché et al 2010b). In 2011, the occurrence in Euselasia eucerus, a species of the Riodinidae was described (Zaché et al 2011).…”

Reproduction ofTrichospilus diatraeae(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in the Pupae ofDiaphania hyalinata(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) of Various Ages

“…Parasitoids are important in the context of their diversity and the parasitism levels they inflict on the host populations (Olivera & Bordat 1996;Pikart et al 2011;Tavares et al 2012). Eulophidae (Hymenoptera), the largest family of Chalcidoidea with 4,472 species in 297 genera, occur in temperate and tropical areas and are ectoparasitoids (Eulophinae and Euderinae) or endoparasitoids (Entedoninae and Tet-rastichinae) of insects of different orders (Pereira et al 2008;Zanuncio et al 2008;Talebi et al 2011;Zaché et al 2011). The use of parasitoids in biological control programs may depend on the availability of a host species with suitable characteristics for the development and maturation of these natural enemies (Lemos et al 2003;Pastori et al 2012;Tavares et al 2012).…”