Journal of Hymenoptera Research (2001) 10, 81-90

P.G. Mason, M.A. Erlandson and B.J. Youngs (2001)
Effects of parasitism by Banchus flavescens (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the bertha armyworm, Mamestra configurata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Journal of Hymenoptera Research 10 (1), 81-90
Abstract: The bertha armyworm, Mamestra configurata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest of canola (Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in western Canada. It is the focus of research to develop a management program integrating microbial and insect parasitoid agents with cultural practices and judicious use of chemical insecticides. To develop IPM effectively it is essential to understand the impact of parasitism on feeding activity of the host. We studied the effect of parasitism by two solitary koinobiont larval endoparasitoids: Banchus flavescens Cresson (Ichneumonidae) is a native parasitoid of M. configurata; and the European Microplitis mediator (Haliday) (Braconidae) is a candidate for introduction to enhance the biological control effected by B. flavescens. Parasitism by B. flavescens resulted in significantly decreased food consumption and lower biomass production but did not reduce the time that the pest would occur in the crop. Host larvae parasitized by M. mediator showed a much greater reduction in food consumed, weight gained, frass produced and the host's feeding time compared to nonparasitized larvae or those parasitized by B. flavescens. Management strategies should consider options that would minimize impact on parasitized larvae and introduction of M. mediator could benefit integrated management programs for M. configurata
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Peter G. Mason, Martin A. Erlandson

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mamestra configurata
Microplitis mediator (parasitoid)	Mamestra configurata
Banchus flavescens (parasitoid)	Mamestra configurata