Relative abundance of parasitoids reared during field exposure of sentinel larvae of the leafminers Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), L. sativae Blanchard, and Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau) (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Abstract

In order to examine the relative abundance of indigenous parasitoids against three leafminer species, Liriomyza trifolii, L. sativae and Chromatomyia horticola, kidney bean plants infested with larvae of each species were exposed in vegetable gardens or grassland to different seasonal conditions (spring, summer and fall). Abundant parasitoid species were Chrysocharis pentheus, Diglyphus isaea and D. minoeus in spring or fall, and Neochrysocharis formosa, D. albiscapus and D. pusztensis in summer. Also, abundant parasitoid species varied among the different field conditions; however, within the same season and field the dominant parasitoid species were similar in all three leafminer species tested. Our findings indicate that the dominant parasitoid species did not exhibit any strong preference in the field between the three host species, namely L. trifolii, L. sativae or C. horticola.