The Hymenopteran parasitoid complex associated with Coniesta ignefusalis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Pearl millet in Mali

Abstract

Moths of Coniesta ignefusalis (Hampson) were collected by automatic light traps on millet field near Bamako in 2018. The light trap data shows three periods of moth flight. The greatest number of moths has been collected in the beginning of September. At the same time, to study the species composition of parasitic hymenopteran, 800 damaged segments of the millet stem were collected, of which a host and its parasitoids were reared in the laboratory for 1.5 month. Eleven species of hymenopteran parasitoids were reared: Tetrastichus atriclavus Waterston, Pediobius furvus Gahan (Eulophidae), Psilochalcis soudenensis (Steffan) (Chalcididae), Eurytoma braconidis (Ferriere) (Eurytomidae), Exoristobia dipterae (Risbec) (Encyrtidae), Pachyneuron sp. (Pteromalidae), Syzeuctus ruberrimus Benoit and S. senegalensis Benoit (Icheumonidae); Stenobracon (Euvipio) unifasciatus (Brulle) and Cheloninae species (Braconidae) and Aphanogmus reticulatus (Fouts) (Ceraphronidae). Three of these species: T. atriclavus (63.3%), S. senegalensis (18.8%) and A. reticulatus (8.0%) make up 90.1% of all specimens reared. Tetrastichus atriclavus is likely the most important hymenopterans regulator of C. ignefusalis. Asynchronous appearance of moths and parasitoids has been found, and is discussed.