Abstract
Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) spends the largest part of its life cycle inside the stalk of the host plant,which provides protection against the action of conventional control methods. Biological control has been considered a viable alternative to control this pest in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), two pest preferential hosts. This paper reports the occurrence in Brazil of Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera; Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) parasitizing pupae of D. saccharalis obtained from corn plants. It also includes preliminary biological data about the insect. A single female of T. howardi is able to produce up to 66 offspring using a single pupa of the host D. Saccharalis and apparently does not distinguish between the host pupae of different ages. The life cycle of the parasitoid was around 25.5 days. The presence of the parasitoid in Brazil opens a new perspective on suppression of the sugarcane borer, considering the promising results already obtained in Asian countries. The insect is well adapted to laboratory conditions, can be produced in large scale and may became an additional option for the integrated pest management in those crops where D. saccharalis is a key pest such as the sugarcane, corn and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench).
Highlights
The demand for corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has increased the cultivated area of these cereals as well as the problems with their insect pests (Sertkaya et al, 2004; Figueiredo et al, 2006ab)
In sugarcane fields in Brazil the control of this pest is achieved through the release of natural enemies
Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera; Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) is a gregarious pupal parasitoid which has been recorded as a primary parasitoid or facultative hyperparasitoid associated with a great number of Lepidoptera pest species of important crops (Baitha et al, 2004; Prasad et al, 2007; La Salle and Polaszek, 2007)
Summary
The demand for corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has increased the cultivated area of these cereals as well as the problems with their insect pests (Sertkaya et al, 2004; Figueiredo et al, 2006ab). Novo registro de Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) como parasitóide de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) em milho Este trabalho relata a ocorrência no Brasil de Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) parasitando pupas de D. saccharalis em colmos de plantas de milho.
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