Field host range of Apanteles opuntiarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Argentina, a potential biocontrol agent of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in North America

Authors

  • Laura Varone FuEDEI, Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas, Hurlingham (1686), Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Guillermo Logarzo FuEDEI, Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas, Hurlingham (1686), Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Juan José Martínez CONICET–División Entomología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Fernando Navarro Instituto Superior de Entomología “Dr. Abraham Willink”, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
  • James E. Carpenter USDA-ARS-CPMRU, Tifton, GA 31794, USA
  • Stephen D. Hight USDA-ARS-CMAVE, Center for Biological Control, FAMU, Tallahassee, FL 32308, USA

Keywords:

parasitoid, host range, cactus moth, Apanteles alexanderi, Apanteles opuntiarum, biological control

Abstract

Field exploration in Argentina for cactophagous lepidopteran hosts parasitized by the recently described braconid parasitoid Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) revealed a host range restricted to Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Py­ralidae) and C. doddi. Field collections of cactophagous larvae parasit­ized by the congeneric and sympatric parasitoid A. alexanderi included the host species C. bucyrus, Sigelgaita nr. chilensis, Tucumania sp., Tucumania tapiacola and Salambona sp. If a narrow host range for A. opuntiarum is confirmed in quarantine with North American cactus-feeding species, then this parasitoid could be released as a biological control agent for C. cactorum with little or no risk to non-target species.

 

Sumario

Las exploraciones de campo en Argentina de larvas hospedadoras cactófagas parasitadas por Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), un bracónido recientemente descripto, revelaron un espectro de hospedadores restringido a Cactoblastis cac­torum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) y C. doddi. Las colecciones de campo de larvas cactófagas parasitadas por la especie congenérica y simpátrica A. alexanderi identificaron a C. bucyrus, Sigelgaita nr. chi­lensis, Tucumania sp., Tucumania tapiacola y Salambona sp. como es­pecies hospedadoras. Si se confirma en cuarentena el estrecho rango de hospedadores de A. opuntiarum sobre especies norteamericanas que se alimentan de cactus, podría ser liberado como agente de con­trol biológico de C. cactorum, con bajo riesgo o ninguno a especies no blanco.

 

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Author Biography

Fernando Navarro, Instituto Superior de Entomología “Dr. Abraham Willink”, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

Deceased: 23 August 2014

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Issue

Vol. 98, No. 2 (June 2015)

Section

Scientific Notes

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