Potential of parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against the sugarcane stem borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) under field conditions

Abstract

The present experiment reports the role of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera; Trichogrammtiade) as a pest management tool for the control of sugarcane stem borer (Chilo infuscatellus) under natural field conditions. The prime focus of study was to find out the effectiveness of egg parasitoid as a primary tool after its field releases at different time intervals. The experiment was conducted at Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab during 2008 to 2009. The trails were laid out in randomized complete block designed with five treatments of field releases an interval of 10, 15 and 20 days. The intensity of damage showed that minimum infestation of 9.31% was recorded in treatment T1 (72,000) Trichogramma cards followed by T2, T3 and T4 with infestation percentage of 13.60, 17.07 and 19.44, respectively. The highest infestation was recorded at 25.95% in control treatment. The lowest infestation (16.57%) was observed after 10 days intervals of field releases followed by recording after 15 and 20 days interval with infestation of 17.14 and 17.52%. Key words: Trichogramma chilonis, egg parasitoid, sugarcane, Chilo infuscatellus.