Bulletin of Entomological Research (2006) 96, 187-196

T. Haye, U. Kuhlmann, H. Goulet and P.G. Mason (2006)
Controlling Lygus plant bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) with European Peristenus relictus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Canada - risky or not?
Bulletin of Entomological Research 96 (2), 187-196
Abstract: The European Peristenus relictus Loan (syn. P. stygicus) has been considered for biological control of Lygus plant bugs native to Canada. Laboratory and field studies were conducted in the area of origin to evaluate the host specificity of P. relictus. Laboratory choice and no-choice tests demonstrated that P. relictus attacked all non-target species offered (fundamental host range). However, closely related non-target mirids (tribe Mirini) were generally well accepted by P. relictus, while hosts from the tribe Stenodemini were less frequently attacked and less suitable for parasitoid development. To validate the laboratory results, a thorough examination of the parasitoid complex of common mirids in Europe was conducted to determine which non-target species may serve as alternative hosts for P. relictus in a natural situation (ecological host range). When comparing both approaches, the fundamental host range of P. relictus matched its ecological host range. In addition to three Lygus species, the ecological host range of P. relictus in the area of Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, contains at least 16 non-target species, including hosts belonging to the subfamilies Mirinae, Phylinae and Bryocorinae. A broad ecological and fundamental host range suggests that P. relictus is a generalist; however, P. relictus was not the primary contributor to parasitism of most non-target hosts studied. Although P. relictus is assumed to be of minor importance for regulating non-target populations in the area of investigation, the results of the present study indicate that P. relictus has the potential to use non-target host populations for reproduction.
(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): Ulrich Kuhlmann, Tim Haye, Peter G. Mason

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Peristenus relictus (parasitoid)			Germany