Environmental Entomology (1987) 16, 1062-1066
J.E. Pena, V.H. Waddill and K.D. Elsey (1987)
Survey of native parasites of the pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis Stoll, and melonworm, Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in southern and central Florida
Environmental Entomology 16 (5), 1062-1066
Abstract: The effect of larval parasites of the pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll), and of the melonworm, Diaphania hyalinata (L.), were determined in southern and central Florida. Apanteles sp., Hypomicrogaster diaphaniae (Muesebeck), Pristomerus spinator (Fabricius), Casinaria infesta (Cresson), Temelucha sp., and Chelonus sp. were collected from the pickleworm and from the melonworm larvae. Gambrus ultimus (Cresson) and Agathis texana (Cresson) accounted for a small proportion of melonworm larval parasitism. Average parasitism of the pickleworm larvae was 2.28 and 4.33% in 1983 and 1984. Average parasitism of melonworm larvae was 12.14 and 13.42% in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Relationship between abundance of parasite species and cucurbit plants is discussed.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
