BioControl (2001) 46, 71-90

Isabelle Lauziere, Jesusa C. Legaspi, Benjamin C. Legaspi Jr, James W. Smith Jr and Walker A. Jones (2001)
Life-history studies of Lydella jalisco (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
BioControl 46 (1), 71-90
Abstract: Lydella jalisco Woodley (Diptera: Tachinidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid of the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the key pest of sugarcane in Texas. This parasitoid was re-introduced into Texas in 1998 as part of a classical biological control program. Information on the biology of L. jalisco is scarce and indispensable for its propagation in captivity and understanding of L. jalisco-E. loftini interactions. Parasitoid longevity, reproductive biology and immature development were studied under laboratory conditions. At 22 °C, honey-fed mated adults lived about two weeks whereas lifespan of unmated individuals averaged three weeks. Females of L. jalisco emerged with a complement of eggs that continued to develop during the first days following emergence. Mating was necessary for embryonic development. After copulation, eggs were fertilized and gradually transferred to an elongated ovisac where they incubated for about one week before hatching. Hatching occurred in the female's reproductive tract, an attribute of true ovoviviparous reproduction. First instar larvae were available for oviposition during the female's entire lifetime. Egg load increased with adult female size; mean lifetime potential fecundity was 400 ± 140 eggs per female. Parasitoids successfully developed on second to sixth instar host larvae. However, host size at parasitization positively influenced the size of resultant adult parasitoids as well as the duration of the larval growth period which was shorter as host size increased. Parasitoid larvae did not complete development below 15 °C, whereas parasitoid larval and pupal mortality respectively reached 14 and 75 percent when temperature exceeded 30 °C. The importance of biological and reproductive attributes of L. jalisco for biological control, as well as for rearing are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Isabelle Lauziere, Jesusa Crisostomo Legaspi, Walker A. Jones

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Eoreuma loftini	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)	U.S.A. (mid S)
Lydella jalisco (parasitoid)	Eoreuma loftini	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)	U.S.A. (mid S)