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Title: FORAGING SUCCESS OF THREE SPECIES OF TRICHOGRAMMA IN A SIMULATED RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Author
item GRIESHOP, MATHEW - KANSAS STATE UNIV
item Flinn, Paul
item NECHOLS, JAMES - KANSAS STATE UNIV

Submitted to: National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2004
Publication Date: 11/12/2004
Citation: Grieshop, M.J., Flinn, P.W., Nechols, J.R. 2004. Foraging success of three species of trichogramma in a simulated retail environment. National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three species of Trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Trichogramma deion Pinto and Oatman, T. ostriniae Pang et Chen, and T. pretiosum Riley) were evaluated as potential biological control agents for the Indianmeal moth (IMM) (Plodia interpunctella Hubner) in retail stores. A single shelving unit was used in each trial and foraging success was tracked via a grid of sentinel egg patches. The shelving units were either bare or were stocked with simulated packages and consisted of pallet units with five shelves measuring 1.83 m high by 1.22 m wide by 0.61 m deep. 15 sentinel egg patches were placed in identical arrangements on each shelf as well as on the floor beneath the unit. In trials with packaging, 24 cardstock boxes totaling 3.97 m2 surface area/shelf were placed on the four lower shelves. Approximately 500 female Trichogramma were released at the center of the shelving unit and allowed to forage for 48 hours and percent parasitism was recorded after seven days. Foraging success as well as the spatial pattern of parasitism differed significantly among the three Trichogramma species with T. deion performing the best of the three species. Additionally, packaging affected the foraging efficiency of T. ostriniae and T. pretiosum but did not appear to affect T. deion. The implication of the research on both the selection of Trichogramma species and release strategies for IMM management in finished stored products was discussed.