Biological control of cultural heritage pest Coleoptera and Lepidoptera with the help of parasitoid Hymenoptera

Abstract

Natural enemies are known from many cultural heritage pests, but their potential for biological control has been marginally exploited only. In this publication, examples of practical and commercial application of parasitoids of beetles and moths are compiled as well as laboratory research that contributes to the development of guidelines for parasitoid releases. One the one hand there are parasitoids found to occur simultaneously with the pests in buildings, on the other hand there are parasitoids that were never found to be associated with the respective pests but accept them if brought into the cultural heritage environments. An example for the latter is the egg parasitoid <em>Trichogramma evanescens euproctidis</em>, a parasitoid of moth eggs including those of the cloth moth <em>Tineola bisselliella</em>. In semi-field trials it was shown that inundative releases of the egg parasitoids are necessary and that effectiveness is reduced on thick cloth with long strand. <em>Trichogramma </em>release units have to be placed directly on the cloth to be protected. A naturally occuring parasitoid of Anobiid beetles is the pteromalid larval parasitoid <em>Lariophagus distinguendus</em>. This parasitoid was applied against the drugstore beetle <em>Stegobium paniceum </em>in historic libraries and against spider beetles (Ptininae) in historic buildings. A simulation model for the population-dynamics of <em>L. distinguendus </em>and the golden spider beetle <em>Niptus hololeucus </em>is presented. Finally, monitoring of the Braconid larval parasitoid <em>Spathius exarator </em>used for indirect monitoring of the common furniture beetle <em>Anobium punctatum </em>is described. The future potential of parasitoids to control cultural heritage pests is discussed.