Journal of Insect Science (2003) 3 (33), p. 27 (Villalobos et al.)

Ethel M. Villalobos, Mark G. Wright, Marshall Johnson and Adam Vorsino (2003)
Ecological parameters that affect the behavioral response and efficiency of Ganaspidium utilis as a bio-control agent of Liriomyza trifolii
Journal of Insect Science 3 (33), 27-27
XIII International Entomophagous Insects Workshop - July 27-31, 2003, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.
Abstract: Ganaspidium utilis, introduced to Hawaii as a biological control agent of the leaf mining flies in the genus Liriomyza, can successfully parasitize its host in a variety of crops. It is not clear, however, on what crop and under what conditions is this parasitoid most efficient. Using individual leaves as "patches" we investigated how certain ecological parameters, including structural defenses of the host plant, host larval maturity and density affect the parasitoid's behavior and efficiency. Female Ganaspidium utilis were able to evaluate "patch quality" and preferentially visit leaves with higher larval density. Maturity of the host larva is not as strong a predictor of female visitation to a leaf. G. utilis exhibits a flexible search response when encountering novel crops. Females were quick to exploit the newly introduced host plant species, this in spite of large differences in structural defenses among the crops. The effect of trichomes (presence and density) on the quality of a patch was also studied.
Database assignments for author(s): Mark G. Wright

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Liriomyza trifolii		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
Ganaspidium utilis (parasitoid)	Liriomyza trifolii		U.S.A. (Hawaii)