Evaluating a new method for monitoring the field establishment and parasitism of Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Authors

  • David E. Jennings Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
  • Jian J. Duan USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insect Introduction Research Unit, Newark, DE 19713, USA
  • Kristi M. Larson USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insect Introduction Research Unit, Newark, DE 19713, USA Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
  • Jonathan P. Lelito USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Emerald Ash Borer Program, Brighton, MI 48116, USA
  • Paula M. Shrewsbury Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA

Keywords:

Agrilus planipennis, biological control, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, invasive species

Abstract

We tested 10 cm × 10 cm mesh egg-sentinel envelopes (ESEs) containing emerald ash borer eggs on filter paper, and assessed how 2 different mesh sizes (0.5 mm and 1 mm) affected parasitism by Oobius agrili in the laboratory, and parasitism and predation in the field. Mesh size significantly affected parasitism in the laboratory, with the 0.5 mm mesh reducing parasitism by approximately 20% relative to the 1 mm mesh. Parasitism was much lower in the field with no significant difference among treatments, but the 0.5 mm mesh did significantly reduce predation by almost 50% in comparison to the 1 mm mesh. To reduce egg predation while enabling detectable levels of parasitism by O. agrili, we therefore recommend using mesh screen 0.5 mm wide to create ESEs for field deployment.

 

En el presente estudio, hicimos sobres de un tamiz de 10 cm × 10 cm para los huevos centinales (SHC) que tienen huevos del barrenador esmeralda del fresno sobre papel de filtro, y probamos cómo los 2 diferentes tamaños de tamices (0.5 mm y 1 mm) afectó el parasitismo por Oobius agrili en el laboratorio, y el parasitismo y la depredación en el campo. El tamaño del tamiz afectó el parasitismo significativamente en el laboratorio, con el tamiz de 0.5 mm reduciendo el parasitismo aproximadamente un 20% respecto al tamiz de 1 mm. El parasitismo fue mucho menor en el campo, sin diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos, pero el tamiz de 0.5 mm redujó significativamente la depredación de casi un 50% en comparación con el tamiz de 1 mm. Para reducir la depredación de huevos y permitir un nivel detectable de parasitismo de O. agrili, por lo tanto, recomendamos el uso de un tamiz de 0.5 mm de ancho para hacer los SHC para su uso en el campo.

 

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Issue

Vol. 97, No. 3 (September 2014)

Section

Scientific Notes

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