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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152234
Title: WHEAT STEM SAWFLY, CEPHUS CINCTUS NORTON (HYMENOPTERA: CEPHIDAE) BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Author
item SHANOWER, TOM - 5436-05-10
item Hoelmer, Kim
item LITTLEFIELD, J - MONTANA STATE UNIV
item MORRILL, W - MONTANA STATE UNIV
item RUNYON, J - MONTANA STATE UNIV
item WEAVER, D - MONTANA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Proceedings of First International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: No interpretive summary required - abstract

Technical Abstract: The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, is a chronic pest of economic importance in the northern Great Plains. It's predominant parasitoids, Bracon cephi and B. lissogaster, attack C. cinctus in grasses and wheat, but parasitism levels vary widely for unknown reasons. Unsuccessful introductions in the past century utilized sawfly parasitoids from Europe against C. cinctus in North America. These failures were attributed to a lack of adaptation to C. cinctus or to the lack of synchronization with suitable host stages. Following the recent synonomy of C. cinctus with the Asian C. hyalinatus, new exploration for natural enemies has been reconsidered. The center of diversity of Cephus appears to be in Asia. Other Asian species may also be conspecific with C. cinctus. Little is known regarding central and northeast Asian parasitoids of Cephus. The key to improving biological control of Cephus spp. may be learning about the impact of parasitoids which are found attacking unstudied Cephus species. Because of possible preferences of certain parasitoids for wild grass hosts over wheat, parasitoids associated with cephid sawflies in the wild grasses will be targeted. Surveys are planned in northern China, Mongolia and Siberian Russia to include wheat-growing areas and natural wild grass habitat.