Abstract
Studies on aggressiveness of parasitoids, as assessed by their parasitism against pests, used in biological-control programs are highly important to select the most suitable species and/or strain to control insect pests. The present study investigated whether the egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi, an efficient control agent for sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) in Brazil, could be replaced by Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner, a parasitoid easier to mass-produce, since it has been found parasitizing D. saccharalis eggs in the warmest region of Brazil and Argentina. Three strains of the genus Trichogramma were compared: T. atopovirilia (ATP strain) reared on a factitious host Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller); T. atopovirilia isoline ATP-I, reared on D. saccharalis eggs for six generations; and T. galloi, reared on A. kuehniella eggs. We measured parasitism of each strain for 72 h and for the entire life span, parasitism rate per cluster of D. saccharalis eggs, number of parasitoids emerged (parasitism viability), and parasitoid life span. The results confirmed that T. galloi is the best species for D. saccharalis control, showing higher control potential, since parasitism and emergence rate were higher for this species. Although T. atopovirilia ATP-I performed reliably in all parameters, T. galloi exceeded and was the most indicated for mass-rearing in control programs for sugarcane borer.
Highlights
The egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi has been increasingly used in biological control (BC) programs for Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) in Brazil
The present study investigated whether the egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi, an efficient control agent for sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) in Brazil, could be replaced by Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner, a parasitoid easier to mass-produce, since it has been found parasitizing D. saccharalis eggs in the warmest region of Brazil and Argentina
Based on the parasitism capacity of the different species and strains over 72 h, T. galloi was superior, parasitizing 11.68 ± 0.94 eggs (F2;86 = 91.63; p < 0.001) (Table 1), a much higher number than that found for T. atopovirilia strains ATP-I and ATP
Summary
The egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi has been increasingly used in biological control (BC) programs for Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) in Brazil. The parasitoid Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner is a more robust species, easy to rear in factitious hosts, it accepts eggs with up to 30 days of storage, and it parasitizes a higher proportion of eggs (1:15) (Coelho Jr., unpublished data).
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