Goniozus omanensis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) an important parasitoid of the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) in Oman

Abstract

A new species of bethylid parasitoid wasp, Goniozus omanensis Polaszek sp. n., is described based on morphology and DNA sequence data. The species is currently known only from the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula, a pest of economic importance, but can be reared on two factitious host species. G. omanensis is compared with G. swirskiana, known from the same host in Israel. We summarise current knowledge of G. omanensis life-history, and its potential as an agent of biological pest control.

Functional and numerical response and mutual interference of Goniozus legneri (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) on Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): Its implications for biological control

“…Members of the genus Goniozus have been used in various biocontrol programmes (Polaszek et al., 2019; Shameer et al., 2018; Venkatesan et al., 2007). The advantages of G. legneri have been demonstrated after their introduction in classical biocontrol (Legner & Gordh, 1992).…”

Stage structured prey-predator model incorporating mortal peril consequential to inefficiency and habitat complexity in juvenile hunting

“…Lesser date moth, Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick, is grievously baneful for date palm trees, a crop with an enormous economical importance in the Middle-Eastern countries; resulting up to 70-80 percent of yield loss. Natural enemies of the pests, Goniozus omanensis , used to exterminate the pests, attack only the larval stage of lesser date moth [49] , [50] . Equivalently, in COVID-19 scenario, one may descry the prey population (human being) taking the aid of habitat (places with a low number of infected people along with sanitizer and the likes) to successfully thwart the initial stage of virus (predator) [51] .…”

Walk this way, fly that way: Goniozus jacintae attunes flight and foraging behaviour to leafroller host instar

“…The ultimate aim was to use the understanding of foraging behaviour to enhance the potential of G. jacintae to control agricultural pests in the field. Furthermore, as this study is among the first to quantify the host location behaviour of a bethylid, the results may be applicable to further agro-ecosystems in which species of Goniozus and/or other bethylids have been successfully deployed as, or considered as, agents of biological pest control (Legner & Gordh, 1992;Baker, 1999;Batchelor et al, 2006;Shameer et al, 2018;Polaszek et al, 2019).…”

“…Most studies of bethylid reproduction have focussed on decisions made by females only once a host has been located (e.g., Legner & Warkentin, 1988; Hardy et al, 1992; Gao et al, 2016; Abdi et al, 2020a,b). As bethylids are encouraged and deployed as biocontrol agents against many coleopteran and lepidopteran pests of economic importance (Cock & Perera, 1987; Legner & Gordh, 1992; Batchelor et al, 2006; Jaramillo et al, 2009; Yang et al, 2014; Polaszek et al, 2019) the lack of information on their foraging behaviour is a potentially important knowledge gap.…”