Impact of the parasite,Chrysomelobia labidomeraeEickwort, on the Colorado potato beetle

Abstract

ABSTRACT Laboratory and field studies were conducted at the University of Rhode Island and in Cuernavaca, Mexico to determine the impact of parasitism by Chrysomelobia labidomerae Eickwort on the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Mite infestation significantly reduced longevity of adult Colorado potato beetles in the laboratory (an average of 40% over all treatment combinations). Longevity shortened with increasing initial mite inoculation density. Temperature did not affect this relationship, but the source of the mite population can affect the level of mortality in infested beetles. Beetles in field cages in Rhode Island, U.S.A. did not die from mite infestation and there was no reduction in beetle fecundity or overwintering success. Experiments in Mexico showed that mite infested beetles initiated flight less often than non-infested beetles and flew shorter as mite density increased.