Emergence Holes Research Articles

Optimization of Sampling Methods for Within-Tree Populations of Red Oak Borer, <I>Enaphalodes rufulus</I> (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

In the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, an oak decline event, coupled with epidemic populations of red oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus Haldeman), has resulted in extensive red oak (Quercus spp., section Lobatae) mortality. Twenty-four northern red oak trees, Quercus rubra L., infested with red oak borer, were felled in the Ozark National Forest between March 2002 and June 2003. Infested tree boles were cut into 0.5-m sample bolts, and the following red oak borer population variables were measured: current generation galleries, live red oak borer, emergence holes, and previous generation galleries. Population density estimates from sampling plans using varying numbers of samples taken randomly and systematically were compared with total census measurements for the entire infested tree bole. Systematic sampling consistently yielded lower percent root mean square error (%RMSE) than random sampling. Systematic sampling of one half of the tree (every other 0.5-m sample along the tree bole) yielded the lowest values. Estimates from plans systematically sampling one half the tree and systematic proportional sampling using seven or nine samples did not differ significantly from each other and were within 25% RMSE of the "true" mean. Thus, we recommend systematically removing and dissecting seven 0.5-m samples from infested trees as an optimal sampling plan for monitoring red oak borer within-tree population densities. This optimal sampling plan should allow for collection of acceptably accurate within-tree population density data for this native wood-boring insect and reducing labor and costs of dissecting whole trees.

Bionomics and morphological and molecular characterization of Elasmus schmitti and Baryscapus elasmi (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae), parasitoids associated with a paper wasp, Polistes dominulus (Vespoidea, Vespidae)

Abstract Elasmus schmitti and Baryscapus elasmi have been recorded in southern Ukraine as gregarious parasitoids in the nests of the paper wasps Polistes dominulus and Polistes nimphus. Polistes dominulus nests infested with E. schmitti were less productive than uninfested nests in only one year (2004) of the three years of the present study, when an increase in the host population size occurred. Females of E. schmitti are synovigenic, and they lay their eggs on the skins of P. dominulus last instar larvae, without paralyzing the host. Rather, the parasitoid larvae feed on young host pupae. The pupae of E. schmitti are isolated from the host remnants by a thin fecal partition as in Elasmus polistis and Elasmus japonicus, other paper wasp parasitoids. Baryscapus elasmi is a pupal endoparasitoid of E. schmitti. The females of B. elasmi emerge without mature eggs in their ovaries and mate with males. They penetrate the paper wasp’s cells with their ovipositor and feed on the extracted hemolymph exudate. Pupation of B. elasmi occurs inside or outside the pupa of the host, E. schmitti. If inside, then the cranial end of the pupa and the adult emergence hole of B. elasmi are situated in the caudal ends of the pupae of their hosts. Comparative notes and illustrations on the morphology of adults are provided, and DNA sequences of three genes (nuclear 28S D2 rDNA, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I, and mitochondrial cytochrome b) were obtained for both parasitoid species. The similarity of the 28S D2 sequences of E. schmitti and E. polistis relative to other available Elasmus sequences suggests a single origin of parasitism on paper wasps in this genus.

Parasitization of aphids on cauliflower seed crop in relation to their population build-up in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh.

Continuous monitoring of aphid population on cauliflower seed crop from December to April revealed an increase in infested plants (23 to 48%). aphid population (8 to 131/plant) and parasitization (I to 3.8%) during January to mid-March, followed by a decline in aphid infestation and further increase in parasitization (to 7.4%) till April 6, despite prominence of coccinellid activity (0.8-9.5 beetles/plant). There was concomitant occurrence of Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) and Myzus persica (Sulzer), the former being predominant (65.3%) and their parasitization varied from 0.7-8.3 (av. 3.6 and 8-8.2 per cent (av. 4.4). respectively. Intra-plant distribution indicated that aphid infestation was maximum on inner whorl of leaves. followed by middle and outcr whorls. but number of mummified aphids did not vary significantly in respect of position of leaves. During mid-March to early-April also, H. brassicae outnumbered M. persicae on terminal bolts and thcil' parasitizlltion was 27.4 and 14.5 per cent. From the mummies of aphids collected from the cabbage fields during Decemher. and May-June, the arasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Aphidiidae) and thc hypeqlanlsitoid Pachyneuron aphids (Bouche) (Pteromalidae) emerged. but the emergence was poor (5.6 and 6.3% respectively), The mummics from which the parasitoid emerged were bigger with oval and uniform emergence holes around cornicles than the mummies from which hyperparasitoid emerged, The emergence holes or the lattel was irregular, smaller and often towards anterior side of the body,

Dung-Beetle Fossil Brood Balls: The Ichnogenera Coprinisphaera Sauer and Quirogaichnus (Coprinisphaeridae)

Coprinisphaera is one of the most common trace fossils in South American paleosols from the Eocene to the Recent. Nevertheless, an ichnotaxonomical review of this ichnogenus has been lacking until now. The revision of hundreds of specimens of Coprinisphaera from numerous formations in Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador has resulted in the recognition of two ichnogenera. One of them, Coprinisphaera, includes isolated, spherical, subspherical, pear-shaped and bispherical structures grouped in five ichnospecies: C. ecuadoriensis Sauer, C. murguiai (Roselli), C. kraglievichi (Roselli), C. tonni isp. n., and C. kheprii isp. n. The new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, Quirogaichnus coniunctus, consists of Coprinisphaera-like structures clustered in a common excavated chamber. The ichnotaxobases for the taxonomical arrangement of Coprinisphaera are mostly related to the presence and position of a small chamber (interpreted as the original egg chamber) with respect to a large chamber (provision chamber) and emergence hole. The egg chamber may be included in (1) the provision chamber, leaving no remains in the trace fossils and resulting in cylindrical emergence holes; (2) the wall of the provision chamber, without additional structures; and (3) a mamillate to spherical additional structure, external to the provision chamber, resulting in pear-shaped to bispherical trace fossils.

A note on facultative kleptoparasitism in <i>Prionyx kirbii</i> (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) as a consequence of multi-specific shared nesting site, with description of its prepupa

Observations of a female of Prionyx kirbii at an aggregation of Stizus continuus revealed an alternative nesting behaviour of the first wasp due to the presence of the second one. The overlap of some resources (prey, kind of soil) allowed P. kirbii to act as a kleptoparasite of S. continuus. The observed female often re-used as nests pre-existing S. continuus emergence holes, but no S. continuus nests. The prey were obtained sometimes by stealing the grasshoppers from S. continuus nests and/or by attacking the females while carrying the prey. From a review of interspecific kleptoparasitism among sphecoid wasps it appears that family Sphecidae includes the highest number of facultative parasitism cases and this finding is discussed. In addition, the description of the prepupa of P. kirbii is given and is shown to be in agreement with the description of the mature larvae of the other species of the genus.

Studies on pest infestation of commercial samples of cowpeas and maize Marketed in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Samples of different varieties of brown beans, Vigna unguiculata and white maize, Zea mays randomly purchased from two open markets in Owerri, Imo State were studied for pest infestation. The grains were examined with x2 magnification hand lens for the eggs, larvae and adults of the pests. Callosobruchus maculates (Olivier) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch) were identified as insect pests infesting beans and maize respectively. On the overall, 43.3% of 7565 cowpea and 30.8% of 4640 of maize grains respectively were infested. Eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of the insect pests were recovered from both the beans and maize samples. In beans, eggs of C. maculates were found only on the pericarp while the larvae, pupae and adults were recovered from both the pericarp and from within the endosperm of the seeds. In the maize, the eggs, larvae and pupae of S. zeamais were located in the endosperm only, while the adults were found in both the endosperm and the outer surfaces of the grains. Weight loss as an index of degree of damage to the samples ranged from 23.3% to 35.7% in beans and 19.3% to 55.7% in maize. Weight loss in both the infested beans and maize increased with increase in the number of emergence holes. Public health implications of the insect infestation of the stored products such as reduction in nutritive value and accumulation of undesirable residues were discussed. Improved storage and pest control techniques are recommended. Keywords : pest, infestation, cowpea, maize, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(1) 2005: 5-9

Oviposition Sites of the Cypress Seed Bug Orsillus maculatus and Response of the Egg Parasitoid Telenomus gr. Floridanus

Phytophagous insects have many strategies to escape parasitoids, for example by hiding eggs into plant tissues, but oviposition in holes made by another insect is rather scarce. The cypress seed bug Orsillus maculatus Fieber (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) is strictly dependent on the availability of cones of Cupressus sempervirens L. to oviposit. Females lay eggs either in exit holes cut through the cone scale by emerging adults of the cypress seed chalcid, Megastigmus wachtli Seitner (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), or on the inner side of scales of partly open cones. A recently discovered egg parasitoid belonging to the genus Telenomus has been shown to attack bug eggs in both oviposition sites. In this paper we investigated the parasitoid performance according to oviposition sites. Field samplings were conducted in two evergreen cypress orchards located in the south of France. The distribution and condition of the egg patches were compared between the two locations and oviposition sites. Seed bugs preferred to oviposit in emergence holes of M. wachtli, and parasitoid performance was higher in eggs laid on cone scales. The chalcid emergence holes seemed to ensure bug eggs with enemy-free space. Oviposition site selection could be an adaptive strategy to escape parasitoid attack.

The mechanism of the emergence of Cotesia kariyai (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) larvae from the host

At maturity, the endoparasitoid larvae of several subfamilies of the Braconidae have to emerge from inside of the host to pupate. Although the hosts hormonal milieu and the timing of larval parasitoid emergence have been studied, no report has yet focused on the physiological state of the host in connection with the emergence behavior of endoparasitoids. We investigated the mechanism of larval emergence behavior in a gregarious endoparasitoid, Cotesia kariyai. The parasitoid larvae inserted their mandi- bles into the host cuticle and perforated the integument by moving their head-capsule backwards and forwards. The emerging parasi- toid larva must have a physical support (an anchor) with the terminal appendages in order to exert the necessary pressure to cut the host integument. Morphological observations revealed that each parasitoid larva was enveloped in a capsule just before emerging from their host. Eight and nine day-old parasitoid larvae secreted material around their bodies to form these capsules. This material consisted of acid-glycoproteins which coated the exuvium of the 2 nd instar larvae. The haemolymph volume of the parasitised host also decreased in later stages and was dramatically reduced immediatly prior to parasitoid emergence. This final reduction of the host haemolymph volume is the result of absorption by parasitoid larvae. This mechanism allows the parasitoid larvae to create an anchor more easily. The parasitoid larvae could also adhere to each other with the glycoprotein. In addition, these capsules prevent the leaking of host haemolymph through the emergence hole; these holes on the host integument were plugged by the capsules after parasitoid emergence. Although the pressure acquired by the anchor was lost once the head of the parasitoid larvae emerges from the host integument, the parasitoid larvae crawls out of the host cavity using backward pointing spines which enable the parasitoid to grip the capsule and move forward via peristaltic contractions.

First host records for the rogadine genera Rogasodes Chen and He and Canalirogas van Achterberg and Chen (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with description of a new species and survey of mummy types within Rogadinae s. str.

The parasitic wasp genus Rogasodes is recorded for the first time outside mainland China, based on a new species, R. scytaloptericola Quicke and Shaw sp. nov., from Java. Rearing data and host remains associated with the type specimen show that it is a parasitoid of the palm‐feeding drepanid moth, Scytalopteryx elongata (Snellen). Canalirogas sp. aff. balgooyi van Achterberg and Chen is recorded from an unidentified lymantriid on clove trees in Indonesia (Sumatra) and illustrated. Both of these are the first host records for the genera. Rogas spilonotus Cameron is transferred to Canalirogas. A survey of mummy sclerotization and adult emergence holes in the subfamily Rogadinae sensu stricto is presented. The data suggest an early shift to a posterior emergence position, with a strictly dorsal position being largely characteristic of the common genus Aleiodes. Only Aleiodes and a few apparently closely related taxa, including Hemigyroneuron, typically form heavily sclerotized mummies.

Ips hauseri

<i>Ips hauseri</i>

A rapid estimation procedure for within-tree populations of red oak borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Epidemic populations of red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), a native wood-boring cerambycid beetle, appear to be a primary factor contributing to oak mortality across the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. We developed a rapid estimation procedure (REP) to quickly, non-destructively and economically assess current density and infestation history of red oak borer in northern red oaks, Quercus rubra L., under outbreak conditions in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. The REP is a survey method for classifying individual trees that takes less than 2 min per tree and uses two variables: crown condition and number of emergence holes on the basal 2 m of a tree. Data obtained through intensive and extensive population sampling validate classification of trees into three REP infestation classes, which exhibited significantly different densities of measured red oak borer population variables. Numbers of emergence holes and previous generation galleries increased significantly across infestation classes from I (low) to III (high). Class I trees had significantly fewer attack holes than did Class II or III trees. Numbers of current generation galleries and live larvae were significantly lower in Class I than Class II trees, but Class III trees could not be distinguished from the other classes. The REP is an efficient sampling procedure as it facilitates greatly increased sample sizes, thus, allowing estimation of red oak borer populations at the stand, area and landscape level. Information provided by this kind of survey method may be vital to understand causes and extent of the current outbreak as well as predict future outbreaks and design silvicultural treatments for enhancing forest health.

Efficacy of Integrating Varietal Resistance and Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) Seed Oil for t,e Management of Callosobruchus maculatus Infesting Bambara Groundnuts in Storage

The efficacies of three rates (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/20 g seed) of application of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil (NSO) in controlling Callosobruchus maculatus infesting stored bambara groundnut were assessed on four local cultivars (Ole, Bakingangala, Bulmono and Jor) with different susceptibilities to bruchid attack. Untreated batches of the cultivars were included to serve as control. Treated and untreated batches were infested with adults of C. maculatus under prevailing storage conditions. Combining application of NSO especially at the rate of 1.5 mg/20 g seed with varietal resistance significantly reduced oviposition and progeny development in C. maculatus. No adult progeny developed in seeds of Bakingangala that were protected with 1.5 mg of oil. Treatment of seeds with NSO at this rate reduced seed damage from 97, 72.3, 58.1 and 87.90.4in unprotected Ole, Bakingangala, Bulmono and Jor to 3.0, 3.4, 0.0 and 18.3%, respectively. The interaction of the strategies also significantly reduced the severity of damage (number of adult emergence holes per seed) and overall susceptibility of the bambara groundnut cultivars. Susceptibility indices (SI) values for unprotected bambara groundnuts were 11.92, 10.52, 9.09 and 11.43 for Ole, Bakingangala, Bulmono and Jor, respectively. Comparable SI values for bambara groundnuts that were treated with NSO at the rate of 1.5 mg/20 g seed were 0.0, 1.12, 0.0 and 2.82 for-Ole, Bakinganpla, Bulmono and Jor respectively.

Occurrence, development and natural enemies of cecidogenous generations of Pemphigus gairi Stroyan (Sternorrhyncha, Pemphigidae)

The paper deals with the occurrence, development and natural enemies of the cecidogenous aphid Pemphigus gairi Stroyan (Pemphigidae). The aphid abundantly occurred on leaves of Populus nigra and P. nigra var. italica in Brno in 2003. It was described from England and no information on its occurrence is available in literature from continental Europe. It refers to a holocyclic and heteroecious species. In localities under study, larvae of fundatrices hatched mainly in the last decade of April. Through their sucking on the abaxial face of freshly unfolded leaves of poplars, species-unspecific lengthwise tile-like galls originate on the adaxial face of leaves (near the central leaf vein). During 12 to 14 days, fundatrices mature in galls of an average length and width 11.2 and &lt;br /&gt;3.9 mm, respectively. Adults live about 1.5 months, namely max. until mid-July. They produce on average 75.6 fundatrigeniae which mature to winged migrantes alatae in the course of 16 days. In the period of hatching the first migrants (at the end of May), galls grow up to the final length of about 11.8 mm and width 4.7 mm. In primary slit-shaped caps on the abaxial face of leaves, migrants leave the galls through emergence holes. In a secondary host (Aethusa cynapium, Daucaceae), they produce on average about &lt;br /&gt;17.5 larvae of exules. Owing to natural enemies (above all true bugs of the species Anthocoris minki), aphids die in 90% of galls.

Dispersal and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in China

We studied dispersal and spatiotemporal dynamics of the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, in Gansu Province of north central China. We used mass mark–recapture methods and observed that 98% of beetles were recaptured within 920 m from a release point, whereas the median dispersal rate for all recaptured adults was 30 m/d. Dispersal potential within the course of a season for males and gravid females was 2,394 and 2,644 m, respectively; however, more work is needed to evaluate the potential of long-distance dispersal events to initiate new colonies outside current U.S. quarantine boundary guidelines. We observed that tree size and number of existing emergence holes on a tree were significant positive predictors of new emergence holes, but we did not measure a significant effect of tree size, number of existing emergence holes, and number of new emergence holes on adult beetle abundance. Implications of these findings within the context of host quality are discussed, but more research is needed to identify key factors in the multiyear host colonization process. Peak population abundance of unmarked beetles (i.e., background populations) in both 1999 and 2000 occurred between 800 and 900 degree-days (base threshold = 10°C) from 1 January. Background populations exhibited local spatial autocorrelation during peak abundance, with ranges of spatial dependence of 229–543 m. The implications of this study are discussed in reference to the role that A. glabripennis population biology plays in the current eradication effort.

Semiochemical Cues Used by &lt;I&gt;Pteromalus cerealellae&lt;/I&gt; (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Locate Its Host, &lt;I&gt;Callosobruchus maculatus&lt;/I&gt; (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract The role of semiochemicals in host location by the parasitoid Pteromalus cerealellae (Boucek) was investigated in Y-tube and three-way olfactometers, by measuring responses to stimuli associated with the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus. Orientation of mated parasitoid females was measured in response to five stimuli: live virgin female bruchid beetles, solvent extracts of whole body virgin female bruchids, solvent extracts of the oviposition marking pheromone from a glass substrate, previously infested cowpea seeds with adult emergence holes, and uninfested cowpea seeds. All stimuli elicited significantly better responses than those to blank controls. Female parasitoids that had previous exposure to live, virgin beetles and infested seeds exhibited shorter latency and response times to the stimuli than did naive females. Live, virgin female bruchids and whole body solvent extracts of virgin female bruchids elicited the strongest responses. Comparison of responses in a three-way olfactomet...

Field trials with plant products to protect stored cowpea against insect damage

Plant products were evaluated under field conditions for their efficacy as insecticides against the cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, on stored cowpea. Seeds, mixed with finely ground clay and three volatile oils were stored in air-tight jerry-cans and canisters. Pods were treated with leaf powders of two plant species and stored in traditional palm-leaf huts. Beetle damage was evaluated before and after storage. The treatments did not prevent damage, but after treatment with oils, fewer beans showed beetle emergence holes; also, the percentage of uninfested beans and the weight of one litre of beans were each higher than for untreated beans. The percentage of germination of stored beans was highest after treatment with Ocimum basilicum oil. Leaf powder of Momordica charantia was effective against weight loss of stored seeds, whereas Ficus exasperata caused a decrease in both the percentage of infested beans and the number of emerged beetles, and more parasitoids emerged than from untreated beans. Laboratory tests on the effect of the oils on the development of the beetle and on bean germination did not reveal effects of the oils. We compare data obtained from the laboratory and with those obtained in the field.

Resistance to the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Among Louisiana and Texas Sugarcane Cultivars

A 2-yr study to evaluate Louisiana and Texas sugarcane, Saccharum spp., cultivars for resistance to the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), was conducted in two locations in Texas, chosen for having different infestation levels. Criteria for assessment of resistance included percentage of bored internodes and adult emergence holes, the latter used to determine the relative impact of each cultivar on the potential areawide buildup or reduction of adult E. loftini populations. A recently released cultivar, HoCP 85-845, seemed to lose a portion of its resistance under heavy E. loftini infestation pressure, suggesting its value only in moderate-to-low infestation conditions. Cultivar CP 70-321 was the most resistant. Results indicated that cultivar LCP 85-384 was significantly (P < 0.05) more susceptible than NCo 310, traditionally the most susceptible cultivar commercially produced in Texas. In 2001, LCP 85-384, which now represents 85% of the production area in Louisiana, had the greatest moth production per hectare (17,052 ± 3,956) under the lower infestation pressure, significantly (P < 0.05) higher than HoCP 85–845 (3,038 ± 2,353). In a portion of the test at the high-infestation location, high levels of sodium and magnesium salt stress (15–30-cm soil depth) were associated with higher E. loftini damage in all cultivars except HoCP 91-555 and CP 70-321.

Influence of carrier solvent on the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil applied for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The influence of four carrier-solvents (acetone, ethanol, petroleum ether and hexane) on the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil applied at the rate of 0.04 ml/33 ml of cowpea seeds and tested on the cowpea seed bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), was assessed under tropical storage conditions. Neem seed oil (NSO) applied in ethanol or hexane, on average, reduced egg-laying, percentage of seeds infested with bruchid eggs, adult progeny development and severity of seed damage (number of adult emergence holes per seed) significantly more than application of NSO in acetone or petroleum ether. Cowpea seeds treated with NSO applied in 0.4 or 0.6 ml of the carrier solvents were, on average, infested significantly less with bruchid eggs than seeds treated with NSO applied in 0.2 ml of the solvents. Adult progeny development decreased as the volume of solvents increased and no adult progeny developed in seeds treated with NSO applied in 0.8 ml of ethanol. Severity of seed damage was significantly lower (1.17) in seeds treated with NSO applied in 0.8 ml than in seeds treated with pure NSO (1.59). Application of NSO in hexane reduced the percentage of seeds damaged by C. maculatus significantly more than application of the oil in petroleum ether and seed damage was lowest in batches of cowpea seeds treated with oil applied in 0.8 ml of the solvents.

The parasitoid complex of the butterfly Iphiclides podalirius feisthamelii (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in north-east Spain

The scarce swallowtail butterfly, Iphiclides podalirius feisthamelii (Duponchel), is oligophagous and feeds on woody plants of the Rosaceae family. In north-east Spain it has a bivoltine life cycle, with a third partial generation greatly overlapped with the second. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage. Between 1996 and 1999, survivorship of immature stages was studied in a typical habitat. Eight species of parasitoids were found in association with the butterfly, from a sample consisting of over 1000 eggs, 124 larvae and 32 pupae. Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Trichogramma cordubensis Vargas and Cabello and Trichogramma gicai Pintureau and Stefanescu (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) regularly attacked the second and third generations, causing mortalities ranging from 25 to 45% of the host eggs. Compsilura concinnata (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was also regularly recorded attacking 0–20% of the larvae of the summer (second and third) generations. On the other hand, incidence of parasitism was extremely low during the first generation and consisted mainly of single records of adventitious parasitoids (Ooencyrtus vinulae (Masi) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Blepharipa pratensis (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae)). No pupal parasitism was detected, though the sample size was small. The parasitoid complex of I. podalirius consisted almost exclusively of broadly generalist species that can also attack several important Mediterranean forest pest Lepidoptera, which makes the phenomenon of apparent competition between alternative hosts highly likely. Finally, diagnostic biometric measurements of parasitoid emergence holes from the host egg and details of the life history of the main parasitoids are provided.

Effects of Plant Materials on Damage and Germination of Cowpea Seeds Stored on Small Farms

On-farm experiments were carried out in Ibadan on stored cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) to evaluate the effectiveness of post-harvest treatments designed for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus F and adoptability by small farmers Two treatments effectively reduced C. maculatus damage. Dennettia tripetala Baker f. and Piper guineense Schum and Thonn. essential oil extracts at 5ml/5kg seeds effectively reduced seed damage to 10% and 12.5% compared to 43% and 90% seed damage on cowpea treated with Permethrin dust (2.5ppm) and untreated control respectively, 6 months after treatment. Treatments, which successfully controlled bruchids in on-farm experiments, were evaluated to determine effects on germination. Germination was determined by trials planted in sand. Germination was not significantly (P &gt; 0.05) changed by storage treatments. Analysis of bruchid damage on seed quality showed a decrease in germination related to the number of emergence holes The promise for small-farmer adoption of these successful treatments is evaluated.