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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #150018
Title: ACCEPTABILITY AND SUITABILITY OF EGGS OF FALSE CODLING MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) FROM IRRADIATED PARENTS TO PARASITISM BY TRICHOGRAMMATOIDEA CRYPTOPHLEBIAE (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE).

Author
item Carpenter, James
item BLOEM, STEPHANIE - IAEA/TALLAHASSEE,FL
item HOFMEYR, J - CRI/CITRUSDAL,S.AFRICA

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Carpenter, J.E., Bloem, S., Hofmeyr, J.H. 2004. Acceptability and suitability of eggs of false codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from irradiated parents to parasitism by Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biological Control. 30:351-359.

Interpretive Summary: The false codling moth (FCM) is the most serious pest of citrus in South Africa, and it also is a pest of corn, cotton and many other crops. Many U.S. Federal and State Agencies have expressed concern that this pest could soon be introduced into the U.S. In this study we determined the acceptability and suitability of eggs of irradiated FCM to parasitization by an egg parasitoid, Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae Nagaraja, under no choice and choice situations. Male and female moths were treated with 150 or 200 Gy of gamma radiation, inbred or out-crossed to normal untreated counterparts, and eggs laid by different crosses were offered to T. cryptophlebiae as host material. In general, all egg treatments in the no choice experiments were acceptable for oviposition and suitable for parasitoid development. However, significant differences in the number of parasitized eggs were detected when one member of the host cross, particularly the female, was treated with gamma radiation or when the host egg age was greater than 24 h. No significant differences were detected in any of the choice experiments. Therefore, releases of the egg parasitoid and sterile FCM should be compatible tactics for control of FCM.

Technical Abstract: We determined the acceptability and suitability of eggs of Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) to parasitization by Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae Nagaraja under no choice and choice situations. Male and female moths were treated (T) with 150 or 200 Gy of gamma radiation, inbred or out-crossed to normal untreated (N) counterparts, and eggs laid by different crosses were offered to T. cryptophlebiae as host material. Newly laid (24 h old) eggs, as well as eggs that were 48 h and 72 h old were evaluated. In general, all egg treatments in the no choice experiments were acceptable for oviposition and suitable for parasitoid development. However, significant differences in the number of parasitized eggs were detected when one member of the host cross, particularly the female, was treated with gamma radiation or when the host egg age was greater than 24 h. No significant differences were detected in any of the choice experiments. Our results suggest that T. cryptophlebiae would accept, successfully develop in, and emerge from FCM eggs laid by the different crosses that would theoretically be present in the field under a sterile insect release program for false codling moth (N - female by T - male, T - female by N - male, T - female by T - male) and suggest that further evaluations combining releases of irradiated moths and parasitoids are warranted.