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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 #303489

Title: Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as biological control agents in the Philippines: history and current practice

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item AMALIN, DIVINA - De La Salle University
item WARD, RUFINA - Alabama A & M University
item LEGASPI, BENJAMIN - State Of Florida

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2014
Publication Date: 7/19/2016
Citation: Legaspi, J.C., Amalin, D., Ward, R., Legaspi, B. 2016. Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as biological control agents in the Philippines: history and current practice. Book Chapter. In: Vison, S.B., Greenberg, S.M., Liu, T.X., Rao, A., Voloscluk, L.F., editors. Biological Control of Pests Using Trichogramma: Current Status and Perspectives. Yangling, China (PRC): Northwest A&F University Press. p. 430-454.

Interpretive Summary: The historical use of Trichogramma spp. as biological control agents in the Philippines is presented as: 1) field surveys showing incident parasitism; 2) experimental studies conducted in the laboratory or field; and 3) applied biological control programs, often with recommended release rates. In each analysis, the species of Trichogramma is identified when possible, as well as the crop plants and target pests. Current deployment and mass rearing technologies are described. Finally, we discuss factors that affect the decisions of farmers in adopting the use of Trichogramma in Integrated Pest Management programs.

Technical Abstract: Trichogramma parasitoids have long been recognized as important and viable biological control agents against lepidopteran pests of rice, corn and sugarcane in the Philippines. We describe the history of research and use of Trichogramma spp. in the Philippines in three main areas: 1) field surveys – sampling studies showing endemic species of Trichogramma in the field; 2) experimental studies – results of manipulative experiments or biological studies, often in the laboratory; and, 3) applied control – reports of actual attempts to control pests in the field, sometimes indicating release rates and cost analysis relative to conventional control. Available literature is assigned to one of the main areas and tabulated chronologically. Each study contains the species of Trichogramma reported, target crop and host insect, literature citation and important notes, if the information is available. Finally, we discuss the status of mass rearing of Trichogramma spp. in the Philippines and the factors affecting its adoption as a viable control agent against economic pests.