Bulletin of Insectology (2009) 62, 113-120
Bas P. Suverkropp, Franz Bigler and Joop C. van Lenteren (2009)
Dispersal behaviour of Trichogramma brassicae in maize fields
Bulletin of Insectology 62 (1), 113-120
Abstract: Glue-sprayed maize plants were used to study dispersal behaviour of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae) in maize fields. To estimate the distance covered during an initial flight, T. brassicae were studied in a field cage with 73 glue-sprayed plants. Most of the parasitoids were found close to the release point, but several reached plants at distances up to 180 cm showing that walking and jumping are not the only mechanisms involved in initial dispersal. Mean distance of recapture from the release point was 60 cm. In a second experiment, glue-sprayed plants were placed in a maize field in a cross-pattern with 1.5 m distance between plants. On plants neighbouring the glue-sprayed plants, egg masses were fixed to measure parasitism. Only 0.7 to 3% of the released parasitoids were recaptured in the field. During the first day there was a sharp gradient with distance in the numbers of parasitoids recaptured, but during the second and third day there was no longer a significant gradient. The numbers captured on the second and third day were much lower than those captured on the first day. There was little correlation between the number of wasps landing on a plant and parasitism. In the field, apparently 75% of the wasps had left the area within 7.5 meter of the release point at the end of the first day, and 95% had left this area at the end of the second day. It is concluded that T. brassicae disperses in maize fields mainly by short flights.
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Database assignments for author(s): Joop C. van Lenteren
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
population dynamics/epizootiology
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ostrinia nubilalis | ||||
| Trichogramma brassicae (parasitoid) | Ostrinia nubilalis |
