Abstract
Narraga fimetaria (Grote and Robinson) is the most common insect consuming the foliage of annual broomweed in central Texas. Broomweed and snakeweed are its only hosts. We reared larvae in the laboratory and collected them in the field on two annuals, Amphiachyris dracunculoides (DC.) Nutt. (common broomweed) and Gutierrezia texana (DC.) T.&G. (Texas broomweed), and two perennials, G. sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. and Rusby (broom snakeweed) and G. microcephala (DC.) Gray (threadleaf snakeweed). Four generations occurred in the field, and a generation required 31 to 33 days in midsummer. Adults from overwintering pupae emerged during April and May, and larvae were present on broomweed plants throughout the season until November. The highest population peaks in the field were only 0.37 and 0.61 larvae per plant in August and September, which caused no noticeable damage to the plants. Major parasites of larvae were Websteriana costalis (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tachinidae), Tetrasphaeropyx n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and Euplectrus comstockii Howard (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).
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