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Control of European corn borer in sweet corn by Trichogramma brassicae Bezd. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae)
Author(s) -
Burgio G.,
Maini S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1995.tb01248.x
Subject(s) - trichogrammatidae , biology , ostrinia , european corn borer , parasitoid , biological pest control , trichogramma , predation , horticulture , crop , hymenoptera , botany , toxicology , agronomy , pest analysis , pyralidae , ecology
The biological control effectiveness of the indigenous egg parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae Bezd, reared continuously on Ostrinia nubilalis (Hb.) (ECB) eggs, was tested against ECB in sweet corn in 1991 (2 ha release plot) and 1992 (3.5 ha release plot). T. brassicae was reared for three‐four generations on the factidious host Ephestia kuehniella Zell. and then released on the crop; a 0.5 ha plot situated at 300–400m from the test plots was used as control in both years. Four releases, each totalling 250–300 000 individuals, were made the first year and three at the same rate per ha the second. ECB adult emergence was monitored using traps baited with sex pheromone and phenylacetaldehyde food attractant. The parasitoid activity was monitored via sentinel egg masses following each release. The parasitization rates of the sentinel egg masses was always higher in the release plot vs. control. The parasitization of natural egg masses sampled in both years before harvest was: 12.5 and 10.86% in control as against 87.5 and 68.58% in T. brassicae plots in the respective years. ECB damage was calculated on crop ear samples. The rate (%) of sentinel egg mass predation by wild predators showed no significant difference between control and release plots for both years. The low level of ECB damage to crop ears evinced the good search capacity, parasitization and control effectiveness of T. brassicae.