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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300617
Title: Sugarcane Stemborers and their parasites in southern Texas

Author
item Meagher, Robert - Rob
item SMITH, J - Texas A&M University
item BROWNING, H - University Of Florida
item SALDANA, R - Texas Agricultural Experiment Station

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Meagher Jr, R.L., Smith, J.W., Browning, H.W., Saldana, R.R. 1998. Sugarcane Stemborers and their parasites in southern Texas. Environmental Entomology. 27(3):759-766.

Interpretive Summary: Approximately 40,000 stemborer larvae, pupae, and parasite cocoons were collected by various scientists including those at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Veterinary and Agricultural Entomology in Gainesville, Florida, during 1982-1995 from commercial sugarcane fields and allowed to complete development under laboratory conditions. Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) and Diatraea saccharalis (F) comprised 92.4% and 5.2% of the stemborers collected. More than 65% of field collected stemborer larvae completed development and emerged as adults after being transferred to artificial diet; however, 27.5% died during development. Average seasonal parasitization of E.loftini larvae and pupae (including parasites collected during sampling and those that completed development) was 6.2 +/- 1.0%. The most numerous parasites collected from E.loftini included 2 indigenous braconids and 2 exotic braconids. Average seasonal parasitization of D.saccharalis was 8.9 +/- 1.6%, caused mostly by Cotesia flavipes (Cameron).

Technical Abstract: Approximately 40,000 stemborer larvae, pupae, and parasite cocoons were collected during 1982-1995 from commercial sugarcane fields and allowed to complete development under laboratory conditions. Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) and Diatraea saccharalis (F) comprised 92.4% (36,897/39,945) and 5.2% (2,057/39,945) of the stemborers collected. More than 65% of field collected stemborer larvae completed development and emerged as adults after being transferred to artificial diet; however, 27.5% died during development. Average seasonal parasitization of E.loftini larvae and pupae (including parasites collected during sampling and those that completed development) was 6.2 +/- 1.0%. The most numerous parasites collected from E.loftini included 2 indigenous braconids , Chelonus sonorensis Cameron and Digonogastra solitaria Wharton & Quicke, and 2 exotic braconids, Alabagrus stigma (Brulle) {=Agathis stigmatera (Cresson)} and Allorhogas pyralophagus Marsch. Average seasonal parasitization of D.saccharalis was 8.9 +/- 1.6%, caused mostly by Cotesia flavipes (Cameron).