Environmental Entomology (1997) 26, 1025-1030

A.M. Cortesero, J.P. Monge and J. Huignard (1997)
Dispersal and parasitizing abilities of Eupelmus vuilleti (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) within a column of cowpea seeds
Environmental Entomology 26 (5), 1025-1030
Abstract: Eupelmus vuilleti (Crawford) is an ectoparasitoid of the seed-eating beetle Bruchidius atrolineatus (Pic), which is an important pest of stored cowpea, Vigna unguiculata Walp, seeds in West Africa. Herein, we investigated the dispersal abilities of females within columns of seeds to assess the potential of E. vuilleti as a biological control agent of bruchids in cowpea granaries. The influence of host presence together with the 2 abiotic factors light and gravity on parasitoid movement and parasitization efficiency were analyzed. E . vuilleti females were able to travel through large seed masses and parasitize hosts located at the end of the seed column opposed to their introduction zone. Parasitoid movement was stimulated by light. E. vuilleti females exhibited a negative geotropism. Females introduced at the bottom of the seed column dispersed more and parasitized more hosts than females introduced at the top. Host presence had some influence on the dispersal of the parasitoids within the seed column at a host density of 10 infested seeds for 16,000-18,000 uninfested seeds. This depended on female introduction zone because gravity was the major factor influencing dispersal. The possible applications of these results for biological control of bruchids in cowpea granaries are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Anne Marie Cortesero, Jean Paul Monge

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Decellebruchus atrolineatus	Stored legumes
Eupelmus vuilleti (parasitoid)	Decellebruchus atrolineatus	Stored legumes