Abstract
Six exotic Hymemoptera parasite species were evaluated for parasitization of the southwestern corn border (SWCB), diatraea grandiosella Dyar (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Studies were conducted in the laboratory and in commercial corn fields on the Texas High Plains. Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner (Trichogrammatidae) is an egg parasite collected from SWCB in Mexico. Cotesia flavipes Cameron, a gregarious internal parasite of gramineous stalkborers, attacks late instar larvae. Macrocentrus prolificus Wharton (Braconidae) is a polyembryonic internal parasite that parasitizes early instar larvae. Allorhogas pyralophagus Marsh and Digonogastra kimballi Kirkland (Braconidae) are gregarious external parasites that attack medium and large-sized larvae, respectively. Pediobius furvus (Gahan) is a pupil parasite which has been recovered from several pyralid and noctuid stalkborers. The influence of host density on parasitization of SWCB larvae by C. flavipes, A. pyralophagus, and O. kimballi was examined both in the laboratory and field enclosures. Parasitization was much greater in the laboratory than in the field. However, when parasitization was ranked in the two settings, the responses of parasites relative to each other were similar..
Overholt, William Allan (1989). Colonization and evaluation of selected exotic Hymenoptera parasites against the southwestern corn borer, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -1027885.