Parasitism of Northern Corn Rootworms (Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica barberi) by Celatoria diabroticae (Tachinidae) in South Dakota: New Geographic Record

Abstract

Corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are devastating pests of maize (Poaceae: Zea mays L.). Recently, there has been increased interest in biological control of corn rootworms, in part due to their invasion of Europe (Kuhlmann and van der Burgt, 1998; Kuhlmann et al., 2005). One group of parasitoids under investigation for their potential as natural enemies of Diabrotica species are flies in the genus Celatoria (Diptera: Tachinidae) (Kuhlmann and van der Burgt, 1998; Gamez-Virues and Eben, 2005; Kuhlmann et al., 2005; Dequech et al., 2006). Female parasitoids insert eggs containing fully developed first instar larvae directly into adult beetles (Zhang et al., 2003). In North and South America, four Celatoria species attack beetles within Diabrotica and related chrysomelid genera, including: C. compressa Wulp, C. bosqi Blanchard, C. setosa (Coquillett), and C. diabroticae (Shimer) (reviewed in Cabrera Walsh, 2004). Celatoria compressa is found in Mexico, C. bosqi is known from South America, and C. setosa and C. diabroticae are the two species found in North America (O’Hara and Wood, 2004; reviewed in Cabrera Walsh, 2004). Celatoria diabroticae has a widespread distribution across the United States (reviewed in Arnaud, 1978; O’Hara and Wood, 2004) and parasitizes D. virgifera virgifera LeConte, D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber, and D. undecimpunctata undecimpunctata Mannerheim (Arnaud, 1978; reviewed in Cabrera Walsh, 2004). There is little information on the incidence of parasitism of D. barberi Smith & Lawrence by C. diabroticae, although it has been reported in Kansas and Illinois [reported as D. longicornis (Say); reviewed in Chiang, 1973; Fischer, 1983]. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. diabroticae parasitizing D. barberi in South Dakota.