REDIA (2005) 88, 9-14

E. López-Sebastián, M.-J. Juan-Martínez and J. Selfa (2005)
Some data about the biology of Meteorus versicolor (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera Braconidae), a larval endoparasitoid of the pine processionary moth
REDIA 88, 9-14
Abstract: The current research was performed between summer 2001 and spring 2002 in a forest area of Pinus halepensis located in the north-eastern Valencia (Peninsular Spain). The infestation levels of Thaumetopoea pityocampa were low all along the study. The parasitism due to Meteorus versicolor varied between 3.3 and 31.6% and highly occurred in the L3 instar of the host, its larval phase lasted 18.7 ± 3.7 days and the pupal phase 23.6 ± 6.6. Cocoon maximum density was observed in late January and imaginal maximum density in mid February. Likewise, several Hymenoptera variably hyperparasitized the braconid: Pteromalus chrysos (11.9-29.4%), Gelis liparae (0.0-14.7%), Gelis carbonarius (3.6%), Brachymeria secundaria (3.5%) and Dibrachys cavus (2.4%). The independent associations of Brachymeria secundaria and Gelis carbonarius with the complex Meterorus versicolor-Thaumetopea pityocampa constitute new tritrophic records for the scientific knowledge.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Jesús Selfa

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.
	Thaumetopoea pityocampa	Pine (Pinus)	Spain (continental)
Meteorus versicolor (parasitoid)	Thaumetopoea pityocampa	Pine (Pinus)	Spain (continental)