A new egg parasitoid for possible biological control of the asiatic maize borer in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Hussein, Mohd Yusof, Yahya, H. J., Schiltuzen, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 1996
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3534/1/ANew_Egg_Parasitoid_for_Possible_Biological_Control_of_the.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3534/; http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JTAS%20Vol.%2019%20(2&3)%20Dec.%201996/02%20JTAS%20Vol.19%20(23)%201996%20(Pg%20111-116).pdf

A species of egg parasitoid tentatively identified as Trichogramma papilionis Nag. was found attacking egg masses of Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee. The life cycle of the parasitoid was completed within 9 days; the egg, larval and pupal stages lastedfor 2,4 and 3 days, respectively. The female: male sex ratio was 3:1, higher than the usual 2:1 sex ratio for Trichogramma spp. Superparasitism was observed whereby 3 individuals were produced from one . host egg. All eggs were parasitized in 4 days at 2:1 (host: parasitoid) ratio. The female parasitoid showed a high degree of searching efficiency and normally parasitized all eggs in a batch before continuing her search for the next egg batch. The female spent 40% of the time searching on the upper surface of a maize leaf, 30% on the lower surface and 30% on the leaf edges. The female searching and parasitization behaviour followed the Type III functional response curve. The female parasitoid showed positive response to the odour ofthe maize leaf, indicating a possibility that a kairomone or contact communication chemical is involved. T. papilionis appeared to be a very efficient egg parasitoid of O. furnacalis and a good candidate for a biological control programme of the pest.