Natural parasitism of the second generation European corn borer eggs Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) by Trichogramma spp. in sweet corn fields in Vojvodina, Serbia - short communication

Abstract

Natural parasitism of the European corn borer eggs (Hübner) by Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) was assessed in sweet corn field in north-west Serbia, region Vojvodina at the localities of Ruski Krstur, from 2004 till 2007. The rate of egg parasitism in 2004 varied from 35.89% to 73.58%. The parasitism in 2005 was lower than in 2004. On four different sampling dates in 2005 parasitism varied from 28.48% to 57.05% and averaged 39.4%. In 2006 parasitism fluctuated between 9.31 and 62.9%, averaging 32.15%. In 2007 parasitism varied from 36.8% to 54.54% and averaged 43.48%. The egg parasitoid species was identified as Trichogramma evanescens (Westwood). The study showed that this natural enemy occurred constantly in sweet corn fields but its number greatly fluctuated from year to year.