Environmental Entomology (1989) 18, 986-995

Andrew M. Liebhold and Joseph S. Elkinton (1989)
Elevated parasitism in artificially augmented populations of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)
Environmental Entomology 18 (6), 986-995
Abstract: Within 1-ha plots, gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., densities were artificially elevated from low densities (about 20 egg masses/ha) to high densities (8,000 egg masses/ ha) using field-collected eggs and F₁ sterile. laboratory-reared eggs. At all sites, including the feral and sterile release areas, densities decreased to undetectable levels (less than 10 egg masses/ha). In the sterile and feral release areas, parasitism by Cotesia melanoscela (Ratzeburg) was the largest source of identified mortality and was significantly greater than in the surrounding area or in untreated plots. Within the feral release area, parasitism by Compsilura concinnata (Meigen) and Parasetigena silvestris (Robineau-Desvoidy) was substantial and was greater than in the surrounding area. This pattern was not observed in the sterile release area. This difference may have been caused by differences in gypsy moth phenologies between the two populations. Spatially density-dependent mortality caused by parasitoids is hypothesized to be important in the regulation of low-density populations. Furthermore, this mortality may have profound effects on attempts to suppress populations using releases of induced-inherited sterile insects.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew M. Liebhold

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
population dynamics/epizootiology
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lymantria dispar		U.S.A. (NE)
Compsilura concinnata (parasitoid)	Lymantria dispar		U.S.A. (NE)
Cotesia melanoscela (parasitoid)	Lymantria dispar		U.S.A. (NE)
Parasetigena silvestris (parasitoid)	Lymantria dispar		U.S.A. (NE)