Parasitismo de traça-das-crucíferas por Oomyzus sokolowskii

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de parasitismo do parasitoide larval-pupal Oomyzus sokolowskii, submetido a diferentes densidades do hospedeiro traça-das-crucíferas (Plutella xylostella), em laboratório, casa telada e campo. Em laboratório e campo, O. sokolowskii foi exposto às densidades de 2, 4, 8 e 16 lagartas. Em laboratório, empregaram-se recipientes de 300 mL e, em campo, plantas de couve foram confinadas em gaiolas de organza (30x50 cm). Em casa telada, foram utilizadas microparcelas compostas por seis plantas de repolho infestadas com 25, 50, 85 ou 100 lagartas. O número de lagartas parasitadas aumentou de acordo com a densidade do hospedeiro e variou de 1,7 a 10,4, em laboratório, e de 0,61 a 7,0, em campo. Em casa telada, a maior taxa de parasitismo foi observada nas microparcelas com densidades mais elevadas do hospedeiro. O tempo de exposição aos parasitoides proporcionou maior taxa de parasitismo após 72 horas (24 horas, 52,4% e 72 horas, 80,7%) independentemente da densidade. Oomyzus sokolowskii responde positivamente ao incremento na densidade de P. xylostella, embora a taxa de parasitismo permaneça constante independentemente da disponibilidade do hospedeiro.

Lack of intraspecific biological variation between two geographical populations of Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a gregarious larval–pupal parasitioid of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The chalcid, Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov has been recorded in many parts of the world as a major larval-pupal, gregarious endoparasitoid of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), a serious pest of brassica vegetable crops worldwide. This study investigated intraspecific variation between two populations of O. sokiolowskii, one from Cape Verde Islands, West Africa and the other from Hangzhou, China. In all crosses and backcrosses between the two geographical populations, the numbers of progeny and sex ratio of progeny were similar to those obtained within each of the populations, demonstrating complete reproductive compatibility between the two populations. The two populations showed similar responses to temperature with respect to development time and survival of immature stages. Observations on the interactions between the two O. sokolowskii populations and Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov), another major parasitoid of P. xylostella, showed that neither population could achieve successful parasitism of P. xylostella larvae already parasitized by C. plutellac. However, both O. sokolowskii populations could achieve hyperparasitism by ovipositing into a mid-late stage larva of C. plutellae developing inside the primary host. Contrary to earlier reports, no evidence of intraspecific variations in ability to hyperparasitize between these two populations of O. sokolowskii was found.

Mortality of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) by parasitoids in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina

Mortality of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) by parasitoids in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) larvae cause severe economic damage on cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata (Brassicaceae), in the horticultural fields in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Overuse of broad spectrum insecticides affects the action of natural enemies of this insect on cabbage. The objectives of this work were to identify the parasitoids of P. xylostella and to determine their influence on larva and pupa mortality. Weekly collections of larvae and pupae were randomly conducted in cabbage crops during spring 2006 and 2007. The immature forms collected were classified according to their developmental stage: L1 and L2 (Ls = small larvae), L3 (Lm = medium larvae), L4 (Ll = large larvae), pre-pupae and pupae (P). Each individual was observed daily in the laboratory until the adult pest or parasitoid emergence. We identified parasitoids, the number of instar and the percentage of mortality of P. xylostella for each species of parasitoid. Parasitoids recorded were: Diadegma insulare (Cresson, 1875) (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov, 1912) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov, 1912) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and an unidentified species of Chalcididae (Hymenoptera). Besides parasitoids, an unidentified entomopathogenic fungus was also recorded in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the most successful parasitoids were D. insulare and O. sokolowskii, while in 2007 only D. insulare exerted a satisfactory control and it attacked the early instars of the pest.

Evaluation of the impact of natural enemies on Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) populations on commercial Brassica farms

1 Accurate assessment of the impact of natural enemies on pest populations is fundamental to the design of robust integrated pest management programmes. In most situations, diseases, predators and parasitoids act contemporaneously on insect pest populations and the impact of individual natural enemies, or specific groups of natural enemies, is difficult to interpret. These problems are exacerbated in agro-ecosystems that are frequently disrupted by the application of insecticides. 2 A combination of life-table and natural enemy exclusion techniques was utilized to develop a method for the assessment of the impact of endemic natural enemies on Plutella xylostella populations on commercial Brassica farms. 3 At two of the experimental sites, natural enemies had no impact on P. xylostella survival, at two other sites, natural enemy impact was low but, at a fifth site, natural enemies drastically reduced the P. xylostella population. 4 The calculation of marginal death rates and associated k-values allowed the comparison of mortality factors between experimental sites, and indicated that larval disappearance was consistently the most important mortality factor, followed by egg disappearance, larval parasitism and pupal parasitism. The appropriateness of the methods and assumptions made to calculate the marginal death rates are discussed. 5 The technique represents a robust and easily repeatable method for the analysis of the activity of natural enemies of P. xylostella, which could be adapted for the study of other phytophagous pests.

Experimental analysis of the influence of pest management practice on the efficacy of an endemic arthropod natural enemy complex of the diamondback moth.

Maximizing the contribution of endemic natural enemies to integrated pest management (IPM) programs requires a detailed knowledge of their interactions with the target pest. This experimental field study evaluated the impact of the endemic natural enemy complex of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) on pest populations in commercial cabbage crops in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Management data were used to score pest management practices at experimental sites on independent Brassica farms practicing a range of pest management strategies, and mechanical methods of natural enemy exclusion were used to assess the impact of natural enemies on introduced cohorts of P. xylostella at each site. Natural enemy impact was greatest at sites adopting IPM and least at sites practicing conventional pest management strategies. At IPM sites, the contribution of natural enemies to P. xylostella mortality permitted the cultivation of marketable crops with no yield loss but with a substantial reduction in insecticide inputs. Three species of larval parasitoids (Diadegma semiclausum Hellen [Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae], Apanteles ippeus Nixon [Hymenoptera: Braconidae], and Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov [Hymenoptera: Eulophidae]) and one species of pupal parasitoid Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) attacked immature P. xylostella. The most abundant groups of predatory arthropods caught in pitfall traps were Araneae (Lycosidae) > Coleoptera (Carabidae, Coccinelidae, Staphylinidae) > Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) > Formicidae, whereas on crop foliage Araneae (Clubionidae, Oxyopidae) > Coleoptera (Coccinelidae) > Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) were most common. The abundance and diversity of natural enemies was greatest at sites that adopted IPM, correlating greater P. xylostella mortality at these sites. The efficacy of the natural enemy complex to pest mortality under different pest management regimes and appropriate strategies to optimize this important natural resource are discussed.

Impacto de inseticidas sobre parasitóides da traça-das-crucíferas em repolho, no Distrito Federal

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar os parasitóides da Plutella xylostella(L.) presentes em áreas de cultivo do Distrito Federal, tratadas ou não com inseticidas, onde larvas do inseto foram coletadas. Foram identificados quatro parasitóides: Apantelessp. (Braconidae), Oomyzus sokolowiskii (Kurdjumov) (Eulophidae), Diadegmasp. (Ichneumonidae) e Actiasp. (Tachinidae). Onível de parasitismo nas áreas não tratadas com inseticidas variou de 5% a 94%, enquanto em áreas tratadas variou de 11% a 87%. A maior parte das larvas de traça-das-crucíferas foram encontradas nas cabeças de repolho ou na parte inferior das folhas da saia das plantas. Esta distribuição de larvas sobre as plantas deve permitir que estas escapem do contato com o inseticida, e, conseqüentemente, os parasitóides podem sobreviver nas plantas tratadas.