Host Specificity and Risk Assessment of Trichogramma fuentesi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), a Potential Biological Agent of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Authors

  • Oulimathe Paraiso Methods Development & Biological Control, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL 32608
  • Stephen D. Hight USDA-ARS, Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Tallahassee, FL 32308
  • Moses T. K. Kairo School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Ann, MD 21853
  • Stephanie Bloem USDA-CPHST, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Raleigh, NC 27606

Keywords:

egg parasitoids, Cactoblastis cactorum, cactus moth, host range testing, nontarget effects

Abstract

Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a non-native moth attacking prickly pear cactus, Opuntia spp., in southeastern U.S. The insect is also an important threat to ecological systems and to native and endangered Opuntia spp. in southwestern USA. The egg parasitoid Trichogramma fuentesi Torre (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was discovered attacking wild C. cactorum in Florida. To evaluate the potential effect of inundative releases of T. fuentesi against C. cactorum, the host searching behavior of T. fuentesi on C. cactorum eggs and host suitability of selected lepidopteran eggs were studied in the laboratory. Host suitability was studied on the native blue cactus moth, Melitara prodenialis Walker, and 6 selected species of butterfly eggs [Danaus plexippus (L.), Dryas iulia (Hübner), Junonia coenia (Hübner), Papilio glaucus (L.), Papilio polyxenes (F.), and Vanessa cardui (L.)] to assess the potential for non-target effects from T. fuentesi. The proportion of parasitism of the native cactus moth (M. prodenialis) was 98%; significantly higher than the non-native cactus moth, C. cactorum (11% average parasitism rate). The high proportion of parasitism for all native non-target species tested and the lowest proportion of parasitism for the exotic target species suggested that T. fuentesi not be considered for inundative releases in a biological control approach against C. cactorum.

 

 

Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) es una especies exótica que ataca a el nopal, Opuntia spp., en el suroriente de los Estados Unidos de Norte América. Este insecto representa una amenaza para ecosistemas con especies nativas de Opuntia spp. en el suroriente de USA. El parasitoide de huevos Trichogramma fuentesi Torre (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) fue descubierto atacando a C. cactorum en Florida. Para evaluar el posible impacto de liberaciones inundativas de T. fuentesi contra C. cactorum, se realizaron estudios de laboratorio sobre el comportamineto de busqueda de T. fuentesi sobre huevos de C. cactorum, y la el potencial de otros huevos de lepidópteros como hospederos para los parasitoides. Se evaluaron como posibles hospederos, la polilla azul de los cactus, Melitara prodenialis Walker, y huevos de 6 especies de mariposas [Danaus plexippus (L.), Dryas iulia (Hübner), Junonia coenia (Hübner), Papilio glaucus (L.), Papilio polyxenes (F.), y Vanessa cardui (L.)] para determinar los posibles efectos de T. fuentesi en organismos no blanco. El porcentaje de parasitismo en la especie nativa, M. prodenialis, fue del 98%; el cual fue significativamente mayor que en la especies exótica, C. cactorum (11%). Los altos niveles de parasitismo en todas las especies nativas no-blanco y los niveles de parasitismo bajos sobre la especie blanco sugieren que T. fuentesi no debe ser considerada para liberaciones inundativas en programas de control biológico contra C. cactorum.


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Published

2014-02-23

Issue

Vol. 96, No. 4 (December 2013)

Section

Research Papers

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