Parasites of Ancylostomia stercorea (Zell.), (Pyralidae, Lepidoptera) a Pod Borer attacking Pigeon Pea in Trinidad

Abstract

In Trinidad, the only serious pod borer attacking pigeon peas is Ancylostomia stercorea (Zell.). This species breeds throughout the year. The eggs are laid on the young pods and the larvae feed on the developing seeds and later pupate in the soil. The complete life-cycle requires 26–32 days.Eight species of parasites were reared from the larvae of Ancylostomia. Life-history studies and rearing techniques for the six commonest species are presented.Apantelcs etiellae isolatus Mues. is a solitary endoparasite attacking first- to third-stage host larvae. It emerges from the fourth-stage host and constructs a white cocoon in the pod. The life-cycle takes 14–18 days.Phanerotoma bennetti Mues. is a solitary egg-larval parasite. The egg is laid in that of the host, but the parasite does not complete development until the host has reached the final larval stage and constructed a cocoon. A generation is completed in 20 to 28 days. A method of breeding this species on Ephestia cautella (Wlk.) is described.Eiphosoma annulatum Cress, is a solitary endoparasite attacking first- to fourth-stage hosts. The parasites emerge from fifth-stage hosts which may be stunted in size but construct normal cocoons. The life-cycle is completed in 26–35 days.Bracon thurberiphagae (Mues.) and Bracon cajani Mues. are gregarious ectoparasites of similar habit. They paralyse second- to fifth-stage larvae and deposit eggs on or near them. The life-cycle is completed in 13 to 16 days. A method of rearing field-collected immature stages is described.Perisierola sp. is a gregarious ectoparasite. The adult enters the pod, paralyses a host, and attaches her eggs directly on to the caterpillar. Second- to fifth-stage hosts may be attacked but the larger hosts are preferred. The female frequently remains with her progeny until they have completed their development, which requires 11 to 15-days.Hyperparasites attacking the parasite pupae are listed.Details of a shipping container and methods of rearing and shipping parasites to Mauritius for trial against Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke) and Maruca testulalis (Geyer) are described. From a stock of more than 44,000 cocoons so sent two species, Bracon cajani and Eiphosoma annulatum, have been successfully established in Mauritius.