Journal of Insect Science (2010) 10 (10), 1-12

Zhong-Shi Zhou, Ze-Peng Chen and Zai-Fu Xu (2010)
Niches and interspecific competitive relationships of the parasitoids, Microplitis prodeniae and Campoletis chlorideae, of the Oriental leafworm moth, Spodoptera litura, in tobacco
Journal of Insect Science 10 (10), 1-12
Abstract: Both Microplitis prodeniae Rao and Chandry (Hymenoptera: Bracondidae) and Campoletis chlorideae Uchida (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are major parasitoids of Spodoptera litura (Fabricious) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) at Nanxiong, Guangdong Province, South China. The niches and interspecific competition relationships of the two species were studied. The results show that the competition between the two species for spatial and food resources was very intense, and C. chlorideae was always dominant when the two species compete for spatial and food resources in different periods. Thus C. chlorideae may drive M. prodeniae away when they occupy the same spatial or food resource. The adaptability of C. chlorideae to the environment in the tobacco fields may be greater than that of M. prodeniae, so C. chlorideae can maintain a higher population compared to that of M. prodeniae.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera litura	Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)	China (south)
Campoletis (genus - parasitoids)
Campoletis chlorideae (parasitoid)	Spodoptera litura	Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)	China (south)
Microplitis prodeniae (parasitoid)	Spodoptera litura	Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)	China (south)