Interspecific competition among Cotesia kazak, Microplitis croceipes, and Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in New Zealand

Publication date: Available online 21 November 2015 Source:Biological Control Author(s): G.P. Walker, F.H. MacDonald, A.R. Wallace, P.J. Cameron Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera; Braconidae) is a polyphagous parasitoid known to have an extremely wide host range, attacking larvae from at least 11 lepidopteran families. It was first detected in New Zealand in 1996 and spread rapidly, raising concerns that it may disrupt an integrated pest management program for Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) that relied on two introduced larval parasitoids: Cotesia kazak and Microplitis croceipes. A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken to assess larval competition among these three parasitoid species. Helicoverpa armigera larvae were exposed to the three parasitoid species in pairwise combinations and the subsequent formation of parasitoid cocoons and emergence of adults were recorded. Separate assays were run with 0, 24 and 48 h time intervals between ovipositions by each wasp species. The results showed that C. kazak prevailed over M. pulchricornis and M. croceipes in all experimental combinations and time intervals, accounting for 79 to 100% of parasitoid cocoons, and that Meteorus pulchricornis was similarly dominant over M. croceipes. The observed dominance of C. kazak in processing tomato crops in New Zealand may be partly explained by the competitive advantage of its larvae, combined with a reportedly faster development rate. However, the nature of th...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research