Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2001) 100, 253-260

D.M. Suckling, G.M. Burnip, A.R. Gibb, J.M. Daly and K.F. Armstrong (2001)
Plant and host effects on the leafroller parasitoid Dolichogenidia tasmanica
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 100 (2), 253-260
Abstract: Parasitism by the braconid wasp Dolichogenidia tasmanica of first instar larvae of the lightbrown apple moth Epiphyas postvittana, established on four different species of potted host plants, was assessed after 2 weeks of field exposure in an apple orchard. Parasitism varied significantly between larval host plants (apple 58%, broom 59%, clover 30%, poplar 19% ). Parasitism on potted apple seedlings of the co-evolutionary host, E. postvittana, was compared in a field trial with that of two native New Zealand leafroller species (to which D. tasmanica has had exposure for 5 decades only). Parasitism varied significantly with larval host (E. postvittana, 83%; Ctenopseustis herana, 58%;Planotortrix octo, 26% ). Larval collections were made from mature apple trees and identification of larvae was achieved by DNA analysis for the leafroller species using PCR-RFLP of ITS1 + ITS2, and for the parasitoid by specific PCR of partial 18S. Parasitism under natural field conditions on mature apple trees was not different between larval hosts (mean 32.5% ). In laboratory studies, more P. octo larvae departed in response to parasitoid probing behaviour than E. postvittana, which is likely to contribute to the difference in parasitism rates. This study conclusively shows that D. tasmanica parasitises native New Zealand leafrollers, despite their different evolutionary origins.
(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): David Maxwell Suckling, Graham Burnip, Karen F. Armstrong, Andrew R. Gibb

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Epiphyas postvittana	Apple (Malus)	New Zealand
	Planotortrix octo		New Zealand
Dolichogenidea tasmanica (parasitoid)	Epiphyas postvittana	Apple (Malus)	New Zealand
Dolichogenidea tasmanica (parasitoid)	Planotortrix octo	Apple (Malus)	New Zealand