Bulletin of Entomological Research (1991) 81, 429-436
N.J. Mills and M. Kenis (1991)
A study of the parasitoid complex of the European fir budworm, Choristoneura murinana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and its relevance for biological control of related hosts
Bulletin of Entomological Research 81 (4), 429-436
Abstract: The parasitoid complex and apparent parasitism of Choristoneura murinana Hübner were investigated in relation to the relative abundance of budworm larvae at several sites in Europe. A single outbreak population was sampled, while other sites supported varying but much lower host population abundance. Sampling at Sion in Switzerland from 1984-89, indicated that the species richness of the parasitoid complex was correlated with relative host abundance and in general more polyphagous parasitoids were represented in sites with greater budworm abundance. Of the specialized parasitoids, Apanteles murinanae Capek and Zwölfer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was dominant in less abundant host populations and both Cephaloglypta murinanae (Bauer) and Dirophanes maculicornis (Stephens) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were supported only at greater budworm abundance. These findings are discussed in relation to the use of Choristoneura murinana parasitoids in the biological control of native Choristoneura spp. pests in other continents.
(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): Marc Kenis, Nicholas J. Mills
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
