Chrysocharis Pentheus Research Articles

Community Structure and Diversity of Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Chromatomyia horticola (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Different Habitats in Changchun, China.

The community structure and diversity of hymenopteran parasitoids of the agromyzid leafminer Chromatomyia horticola (Diptera: Agromyzidae) were studied in agricultural, urban, and natural habitats in Changchun, Northeast China. In agricultural habitats, a total of 3,380 individuals and 19 species were collected, and the dominant species were Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (71.15%) and Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (12.10%). In urban habitats, a total of 5,996 individuals and 21 species were collected. There were three dominant species, C. pentheus (26.68%), Chrysocharis phryne (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (22.18%), and D. isaea (22.13%). In natural habitats, a total of 1,566 individuals and 26 species were collected. There were three dominant species, C. pentheus (30.52%), D. isaea (15.52%), and Pediobius metallicus (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (12.26%). The diversity indices of the parasitoid community in urban and natural habitats were higher than that in agricultural habitats, and the richness index in natural habitats was higher than that in agricultural and urban habitats. These results suggest that there are differences in the community composition and dynamics of parasitoids in different habitats. Hymenopteran parasitoids of C. horticola are less abundant in natural habitats; however, species richness is greater, and can be used as a species reserve for biological control.

A contribution to the study of Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Iran

The fauna of the family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from various regions of Iran is studied. In total 25 species of 18 genera and three subfamilies namely Entedoninae, Eulophinae, and Tetrastichinae were collected and identified. Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker, 1839), Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt, 1838), Chrysocharis viridis (Nees, 1834) and Sympiesis flavopicta Bouček, 1958 are new records for the fauna of Iran.

Insecticide susceptibility and carboxylesterase activity in leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and their associated hymenopteran parasitoids

Laboratory cultures of three dipteran leafminers, Liriomyza trifolii, Liriomyza sativae and Chromatomyia horticola, and their four most common hymenopteran parasitoids in Japan, Diglyphus isaea, Chrysocharis pentheus, Neochrysocharis formosa and Hemiptarsenus varicornis, were evaluated for their susceptibility to three conventional insecticides following topical application. All the leafminers were far less sensitive to malathion and moderately less sensitive to permethrin compared with the parasitoids. The marked disparity in insecticide susceptibility convincingly explains the increased abundance of leafminers in the field after applications of these insecticides. L. trifolii and C. horticola were also less sensitive to emamectin-benzoate than the parasitoids, although L. sativae was as sensitive as the parasitoids. We also evaluated the susceptibility of a more minor parasitoid species attacking leafminers in Japan, Halticoptera circulus, to malathion and it was less sensitive than the four more common parasitoid species and may, therefore, be suitable for augmentative biological control of leafminers in IPM programmes that include insecticides. In addition, carboxylesterase activity of each insect species was determined and correlations with their insecticide susceptibility discussed.

Flowers for better pest control? Effects of apple orchard groundcover management on mites (Acari), leafminers (Lepidoptera, Scitellidae), and fruit pests

Flowering companion plants provide nectar, pollen, alternative prey, shelter, and overwintering habitat for arthropod natural enemies and thus might increase their abundance and efficacy in pest control in agricultural fields. We report the results of a 6-year study on the effects of annual and perennial flowering herbs sown in alleys of an apple orchard on phytophagous and predacious mites, leafminer moths and their parasitoids and on pests causing fruit injury. Plots with weed-free bare ground and with regularly mowed grass served as controls. The abundance and diversity of predatory phytoseiid mites increased in the presence of flowering ground cover plants. However, this positive effect on phytoseiids was confined only to spring and autumn and intraguild predation (Typhlodromus pyri gradually displaced Amblyseius andersoni in the presence of flowers) also constrained their enhancement. Spider mites’ (Tetranychidae) abundance was low in all years and did not increase with the alley herb coverage. Incidence of the leafminer Leucoptera malifoliella was similar among the treatments despite the higher parasitism rate and parasitoid diversity in the plot with flowering herbs. We demonstrated that in the presence of flowering ground cover plants, the sex ratio of eulophid parasitoids' (mainly Chrysocharis pentheus) reared from L. malifoliella larvae and pupae shifted towards a male bias. Ground cover management had no effect on fruit injury caused by codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and summer fruit tortrix moth (Adoxophyes orana) and on the percentage of apples without insect damage.

Current status of Liriomyza leafminers and their associated parasitoids in Shizuoka Prefecture

Field surveys of the exotic leafminers, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and L. trifolii (Burgess), as well as their associated parasitoids, were undertaken in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan in 2009. The surveys, conducted one and two decades after the initial invasions of these species in the prefecture, respectively, revealed that only L. trifolii emerged from all eight leaf samples, suggesting that L. trifolii populations revived after the marked declines that followed the outbreaks of this pest in the early 1990s. Of the 15 parasitoid species collected during the survey, five species, Dacnusa sasakawai Takada, Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) and Neochrysocharis sp., were relatively abundant, and four species were new parasitoid records for Liriomyza in the prefecture.

Contribution to the Knowledge of the Chalcid Parasitoid Complex (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of Agromyzid Leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Turkey, with New Hosts and Records

Contribution to the Knowledge of the Chalcid Parasitoid Complex (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of Agromyzid Leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Turkey, with New Hosts and RecordsA total of nineteen parasitoid species were recorded from agromyzid leafminers in some sites of Middle Anatolia. These species were:Diglyphus iseae(Walker),D. pachyneurusGraham,D. crassinervisErdös,D. pusztenzis(Erdös&Novicky),D. begini(Ashmead),Baryscapussp.,Hemiptarsenus zilahisebessiErdös,Pnigalio soemius(Walker),Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood),N. claraSzelenyi,N. arvensisGraham,N. chlorogaster(Erdös),Chrysocharis pentheus(Walker),C. phyrne(Walker),C. pubicornis(Zetterstedt),C. viridis(Nees),Pediobius metallicus(Walker) (Eulophidae),Epiclerus panyas(Walker) (Tetracampidae), andMerismussp. (Pteromalidae). Among the parasitoids reared,Diglyphus beginiandChrysocharis viridishave been for the first time found in Turkey,D. crassinervis, H. zilahisebessi, N. claraandE. panyaswere recorded fromChromatomyia horticolaandP. soemiuswas recorded fromLiriomyza strigatawere recorded for the first time.

ナモグリバエとトマトハモグリバエにおける4種寄生バチの発育日数

The time of development from egg to pupal stage of four native parasitoid species, Neochrysocharis formosa, Hemiptarsenus varicornis, Diglyphus isaea and Chrysocharis pentheus, on a native leafminer species, Chromatomyia horticola, and an exotic leafminer species, Liriomyza sativae, was examined in a laboratory. The developmental time of N. formosa and H. varicornis did not differ significantly between the two host leafminer species, but that of D. isaea differed slightly. The developmental time of C. pentheus on L. sativae was significantly longer than that of C. horticola. The present findings suggest that L. sativae and C. horticola may have similar suitability as a host for N. formosa, H. varicornis and D. isaea, but not for C. pentheus.

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)

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.

Seasonal abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids of the leafminer Chromatomyia horticola (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and the impact of insecticide applications on parasitoids in garden pea field

The seasonal abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids reared from the agromyzid leafminer Chromatomyia horticola was monitored on garden pea in Shizuoka, central Japan, for 17 months between 2004 and 2005. The leafminer was abundant during the cool seasons (December to May) but parasitoid populations generally lagged behind the leafminer by approximately two months. Twenty-one parasitoid species were reared from C. horticola, and the most abundant parasitoid species were Diglyphus isaea, D. minoeus and Chrysocharis pentheus, comprising ca. 90% of the total number caught. Diglyphus isaea and D. minoeus were abundant during the cool season (December to May), while C. pentheus was abundant in the warm season (May to June). Other common parasitoid species were Dacnusa nipponica, Neochrysocharis formosa and Halticoptera circulus. The effects of two insecticides, malathion and tralomethrin, on parasitoid populations were investigated both in the cool and warm seasons. The insecticides caused a reduction in the density of most parasitoid species for at least one month and resulted in resurgence of the leafminer. However, the density of H. circulus increased after insecticide applications, suggesting that this parasitoid was tolerant to both insecticides but H. circulus could not reduce C. horticola populations when insecticide applications were made to the crop. These studies provide insight into the development of integrated control strategies of leafminer pests in field and glasshouse crops.

静岡県に侵入後のマメハモグリバエとトマトハモグリバエの寄生バチ相

The leafminers Liriomyza trifolii and L. sativae are exotic crop pests in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and were first recorded in 1990 and 2001, respectively. From surveys conducted in the Prefecture between 1992 and 1994, seven parasitoid species were reared from L. trifolii, of which Neochrysocharis formosa and Chrysocharis pentheus were the most abundant. Surveys in 2004 and 2006 recorded 12 parasitoid species from L. sativae, and the most abundant parasitoids were once again N. formosa and C. pentheus. In both surveys, high female ratios were found in populations of N. formosa, suggesting that this species is parthenogenetic. Our surveys indicate that N. formosa and C. pentheus are the dominant parasitoid species of exotic invasive Liriomyza spp. and may play a key role in regulating their populations.

Parasitoids of the leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Adıyaman province

Summary This study was carried out in order to determine parasitoid species attacking leafminers in the family Agromyzidae (Diptera) in Adiyaman province during 2004-2005. Infested leaves with leafminer larvae were collected from both cultivated and non-cultivated plants twice a month. Adults parasitoids were obtained by rearing them from infested leaves in the laboratory. Three parasitoid species belonging to the Braconidae (Hymenoptera) were found: Opius basalis Fischer, 1958, O. exiguus Wesmael, 1835, O. monilicornis Fischer, 1962. Eight parasitoid species belonging to the Eulophidae (Hymenoptera) were found: Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker, 1839), Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedth, 1838), Cirrospilus vittatus Walker, 1838, Diglyphus isaea (Walker, 1838), D. pachyneurus (Graham, 1963), Hemiptarsenus zilahisebessi Erdos, 1951, Pediobius metallicus (Nees,1834), Ratzeburgiola incompleta Boucek, 1971. Two parasitoid species belonging to the Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera) were found: Halticoptera circulus (Walker, 1833), Thinodytes cyzicus (Walker, 1839). Among the parasioids reared, H. circulus and T. cyzicus were recorded for the first time from Agromyzidae in Turkey. In this study, D. isaea was the most predominant parasitoid species found, accounting for 56.18 % of

京都府におけるトマトハモグリバエ，マメハモグリバエおよびナスハモグリバエの土着捕食寄生バチ相

Hymenopterous parasitoids of leafminers, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), L. trifolii (Burgess), and L. bryoniae (Kaltenbach) infesting commercially grown vegetables and ornamental crops were occasionally surveyed in various locations in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The parasitoid that emerged from leafminer larvae or pupae were composed of 22 species: three braconids, four pteromalids, and 15 eulophids. Among them, Opius sp. (relative abundance: 14.5%), Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker) (33.9%) and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (31.5%) were dominant.

Comparison of thermal tolerance of seven native species of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as biological control agents against Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Japan

The efficiencies of seven native species of eulophid parasitoids (Pnigalio katonis, Hemiptarsenus varicornis, Diglyphus isaea, D. minoeus, D. pusztensis, Chrysocharis pentheus and Neochrysocharis formosa) as biological control agents against Liriomyza trifolii in a greenhouse were evaluated based on their thermal tolerance in development and reproduction. All of them are solitary and idiobiont parasitoids, and their adults kill hosts directly by feeding on the hosts. Based upon their thermal tolerance, the species could be roughly classified into two groups, i.e., H. varicornis and N. formosa which are more adapted to high temperatures, and the other five species which are more adapted to low temperatures. In biological control, host killing by host-feeding is profitable in the release step, but becomes unprofitable in the mass-production step because it does not result directly in production of progeny. Hence, an evaluation method based on biological control efficiency (BCE) is proposed in this study as a comprehensive criterion for evaluating the efficiency of the parasitoids as biological control agents. The thermal tolerance and BCE clarified in this study revealed that D. isaea should be used in cool seasons and N. formosa in hot seasons, based on a borderline temperature of 20 to 25°C in the greenhouse.

Toxicity of insecticides to the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, and its parasitoids, Chrysocharis pentheus and Sympiesis striatipes (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

The experiments were conducted to learn about the relative toxicity of insecticides against the two parasite wasps of citrus leafminer (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella. The relative toxicity of 12 common insecticides against the eggs and first instar larvae of the pest, and its parasitoids of Chrysocharis pentheus and Sympiesis striatipes, which are dominant species in Ehime Prefecture, was compared in 2003. Corrected mortalities were evaluated by dipping or spraying methods for the CLM eggs and larvae, and by clip-cage bioassay for the parasitoid wasps. All the insecticides tested showed almost over 90% mortality to the first instar larvae of citrus leafminer, but a lesser effect to the eggs. Against the adult parasitoids, imidacloprid (a.i. 0.005%), thiamethoxam (a.i. 0.003%) and acetamiprid (a.i. 0.005%) of the nicotinoide insecticides were less toxic, but dinotefuran (a.i. 0.02%) showed rather high mortalities. Of the IGRs, teflubenzuron (a.i. 0.05%) and diflubenzuron (a.i. 0.012%) were safe or less toxic to adult wasps. These three nicotinoide and two IGRs insecticides will be suitable candidates for use in the IPM program. Isoxathion (a.i. 0.025%) and primiphose-methyl (a.i. 0.056%) of the organophosphate and alanycarb (a.i. 0.04%) of carbamate were highly toxic. Bifenthrin (a.i. 0.0015%) of the pyrethroid and petroleum oil (a.i. 1.05%) were moderate in toxicity. Clothianidin (a.i. 0.005%) of the nicotinoide showed low toxicity to Chrysocharis pentheus but moderate toxicity to Sympiesis striatipes.

京都府におけるネギハモグリバエの土着寄生バチ相

I investigated the stone leek leafminer, Liriomyza chinensis Kato (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and its hymenopterous parasitoids emerging from the leaves of Welsh onion collected in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, from July to August 2002, from June to August 2003, and from May to June 2005. The parasitoids that emerged from L. chinensis larvae or pupae were Halticoptera circulus (Walker) (Pteromalidae), Pnigalio katonis (Ishii) (Eulophidae), Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Eulophidae), Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker) (Eulophidae), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Eulophidae), and Closterocerus trifasciatus Westwood (Eulophidae). The dominant parasitoid species in 2002 was D. isaea, and that in 2003 and 2005 was P. katonis.

Species and Cultivar Influences on Infestation by and Parasitism of a Columbine Leafminer (Phytomyza aquilegivora Spencer)

Abstract Columbine, Aquilegia spp., are regularly attacked by agromyzid leafminers, Phytomyza spp. Effects of columbine species and cultivars on infestation by the leafminer Phytomyza aquilegivora Spencer, and subsequent parasitism by hymenopterous parasitoids was evaluated in two-year field trials at four locations in central and north Georgia. Among 20 columbine taxa planted in non-irrigated, wooded sites in central and north Georgia, two selections (A. flabellata and A. caerulea ‘Dwarf Fantasy Mix’) were comparable to the moderately resistant native species A. canadensis. In irrigated sites in central and north Georgia, all cultivars were equally infested by the leaf miner. The most heavily attacked selections among all sites were A. alpina, A. chrysantha ‘Yellow Star’, A. caerulea, A. caerulea ‘McKana mix’, A. caerulea ‘Music hybrid’, A. skinneri, and A. x hybrida ‘Ruby Port’. The variegated selection, A. vervaeneana ‘Woodside’, sustained intermediate infestation levels as did A. vulgaris ‘Winkie Blue & White’. Cultivar influences on parasitism of leafminers was quantified at two sites. Eleven species of hymenopteran parasitoids representing three families were recovered. Leafminers infesting A. chrysantha ‘Yellow Star’ were most heavily parasitized at both locations. Chrysocharis pentheus Walker was the most abundant parasitoid, representing 41% of all parasitoids collected and 48.4% of the species reared from leafminers in central Georgia. Seladerma sp. was the only parasitoid reared from leafminers collected in north Georgia and represented 22.1% of all parasitoids obtained.

A 3 year field survey of the natural enemies of the horse-chestnut leaf miner Cameraria ohridella in Lombardy, Italy

A survey to inventory the natural enemies of the horse-chestnut leafmining moth, Cameraria ohridella Deschka and Dimic (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) and to evaluate their relative abundance, was conducted from 2001 through 2003 in Lombardy, northern Italy. Two predators and 10 parasitoids were found during the 3-year survey. An increasing number of parasitoid species associated with the leafminer was detected (4 species in 2001, 5 in the 2002 and 10 in 2003). Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) were most represented: Minotetrastichus frontalis Nees, Closterocerus trifasciatus Westwood, Pnigalio pectinicornis L., Pnigalio agraules Walker, Pediobius saulius Walker, Chrysocharis pentheus Walker, Cirrospilus talitzkii Boucek, Sympiesis sericeicornis Nees, Baryscapus nigroviolaceus (Nees). Only one Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) was found during 2003: Itoplectis alternans (Grav.).

Seasonal prevalence of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and its parasitoids in controlled and uncontrolled Citrus iyo groves in Ehime Prefecture, Japan

Seasonal abundance and parasitism of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton were investigated in controlled and uncontrolled citrus groves from June 2001 through May 2002 on Citrus iyo (iyotangor) in Ehime Prefecture. No significant difference in mean monthly frequency of P. citrella infestation and its parasitoids was found between controlled and uncontrolled groves. There were two peaks of P. citrella infestation, in July and October. These peaks were strongly related to favorable temperature for P. citrella development and continuous flushing of new shoots. At least seven species of the parasite wasps of P. citrella were observed, of which Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker) and Sympiesis striatipes (Ashmead) were the predominant species. The population drastically increased from July to August, and also from October to November, which coincided with heavy infestation of P. citrella in the iyotangor grove. In spite of a high percentage of parasitism (about 70%) in summer and autumn, the damage to tender leaves was noticeable, because all native parasitoids attacked mature larvae and pupae of P. citrella after they had nearly completed their feeding period.

Book Reviews

Book Reviews

The Importance of Parasitoids in Apple Orchards

ABSTRACT Sixty seven parasitoid species have been reared from leaf miners (Phyllonorycter blancardella Fabr., Ph. corylifoliella Haw., Leucoptera malifoliella Costa, Nepticula malella Stt.) and leaf rollers (Adoxophyes orana F.v.R., Pandemis heparana Den. et Schiff., Archips rosana L.). The lowest number of parasitoid species occurred in the conventional orchard, while the highest number were found in the integrated and in the untreated ones. The most important parasitoid species were Sympiesis sericeicornis Nees, S. gordius Walk., Pnigalio pectinicornis L., P. soemius Walk., Holcothorax testaceipes Ratz., Chrysocharis pentheus Walk., Pediobius pyrgo Walk., Tetrastichus ecus Walk., Achrysocharoides atys Walk., Baryscapus galactopus Ratz., Neochrysocharis chlorogaster Erd. (Chalcidoidea), Pholetesor bicolor Nees, Macrocentrus pallipes Nees and M. linearis Nees (Braconidae). The larvae and pupae of leaf miners were parasitized to 35–45%, occasionally to 80%. At the same time the larvae of leaf rollers were parasitized only to 10–20%, seldom to 30–40%. The difference in species composition and in the efficiency of the parasitoids depends on the population density of the host, on the type and intensity of the treatment of the orchard, and on the character of the surroundings.