Oviposition Response of Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Sterile and Normal Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Larvae

Sex Ratios of Commercially Reared Biological Control Agents

“…Diploid males have been discovered in C. rubecula (Stouthamer et al, 1992), and CSD probably operates in this species. Cotesia plutellae is a solitary parasitoid of the diamondback moth, Xylostella plutellae (L.) (Mitchell et al, 1997), and laboratory sex ratios of this species were slightly female-biased in a study by Okine et al (1998). Our finding of an even sex ratio in this species (Table 2) suggests that there is some potential for increasing the female bias of this species in commercial settings.…”

Inherited Sterility in Insects

“…If the pest larvae used in the artificial infestations (nursery crops) were sterile, i.e. the progeny of irradiated parents, then non-parasitized larvae would not contribute to the increase of the wild population but would produce sterile adults that would negatively impact the next generation of the pest insect (Okine et al 1998, Carpenter 2000. In addition to using F 1 sterility as a direct pest control tactic, there are opportunities to use F 1 sterility to facilitate the development of other pest suppression tactics.…”

Parasitism of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae): Field and laboratory observations

“…Since the numerical response is more important than the functional response (Rosen, 1985), the efficacy of C plutellae in spring could be improved by augmentative releases early in spring. Okine, Mitchell, Carpenter and Hu (1998) argued that the availability of a mass rearing technology for C plutellae makes it a good candidate for augmentative control of the diamondback moth. This may be feasible in systems equipped with the required support facilities …”