Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T18:19:09.566Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The influence of introduced parasitoids on the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Victoria, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

P.A. Horne
Affiliation:
Plant Research Institute, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Burnley, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

The distribution of introduced parasitoids of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) in Victoria is described. Apanteles subandinus Blanchard and Orgilus lepidus Muesebeck were most abundant, but Copidosoma koehleri Blanchard was also recorded from several sites. Detailed analysis of data obtained through regular monitoring revealed that, in an area free from insecticides, parasitoids were a major factor in controlling P. operculella. This result differs from previously published opinions on the effect of parasitoids, and is attributed to the analysis of data, in this study, on a generational basis. The effect of insectide applications on P. operculella and its parasitoids is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Annecke, D.P. & Mynhardt, M.J. (1974) On the identity of Copidosoma koehleri Blanchard, 1940 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 37, 3133.Google Scholar
Briese, D.T. (1981) The incidence of parasitism and disease in field populations of the potato moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) in Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 20, 319326.Google Scholar
Briese, D.T. (1986) Geographic variability in demographic performance of the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 76, 719726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callan, E.M. (1974) Changing status of parasites of potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Australia. Entomophaga 19, 97101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cardona, C. & Oatman, E.R. (1975) Biology and physical ecology of Apanteles subandinus Blanchard (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with notes on temperature responses of Apanteles scutellaris Muesebeck and its host, the potato tuberworm. Hilgardia 43, 151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CSIRO (1965) Division of Entomology, Annual Report 1964–65, pp. 7172. Canberra, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.Google Scholar
Foot, M.A. (1979) Bionomics of the potato tubermoth Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) at Pukekohe. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 6, 623636.Google Scholar
Franzmann, B.A. (1980) Parasitism of Phthorimaea operculella (Lep.: Gelechiidae) larvae in Queensland. Entomophaga 25, 369372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geier, P.W., Clark, L.R. & Briese, D.T. (1983) Principles for the control of insect pests: I. The elements and functions involved in pest control. Protection Ecology 5, 196.Google Scholar
Keeratikasikorn, M. & Hooper, G.H.S. (1981) The comparative toxicity of some insecticides to the potato moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and two of its parasites Orgilus lepidus Muesebeck and Copidosoma desantisi Annecke & Mynhardt. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 20, 309311.Google Scholar
Oatman, E.R., Platner, G.R. & Greany, P.D. (1969) The biology of Orgilus lepidus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a primary parasite of the potato tuberworm. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 62, 14071414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Platner, G.R. & Oatman, E.R. (1968) An improved technique for producing potato tuberworm eggs for mass production of natural enemies. Journal of Economic Entomology 61, 10541057.Google Scholar
Rothschild, G.H.L. (1986) The potato moth – an adaptable pest of short-term cropping systems, pp. 144162in Kitching, R.L. (Ed.), The ecology of exotic animals and plants. J. Wiley, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Sankaran, T. & Girling, D.J. (1980) The current status of biological control of the potato tuber moth. Biocontrol News & Information 1, 207211.Google Scholar
Tachikawa, T. (1968) Two species of Copidosoma parasitic on the potato tuber moth (Hymenoptera; Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae). Transactions of the Shikoku Entomological Society 9, 112116.Google Scholar
Van Driesche, R. G. (1983) Meaning of ‘percent parasitism’ in studies of insect parasitoids. Environmental Entomology 12, 16111622.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whiteside, E.F. (1980) Biological control of the potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) in South Africa by two introduced parasites (Copidosoma koehleri and Apanteles subandinus). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 43, 239255.Google Scholar