Southwestern Entomologist (1997) 22, 337-343

K.R. Summy, S.M. Greenberg and J.A. Morales-Ramos (1997)
Patterns of host utilization by Catolaccus grandis, an exotic parasite of boll weevil: effects of host stage
Southwestern Entomologist 22 (3), 337-343
Abstract: A series of experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to clarify ovipositional preferences by Catolaccus grandis (Burks), an exotic parasite of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, and to determine the suitability of various host stages for development of immature parasites. In both choice and no-choice ovipositional experiments, female C. grandis exhibited a pronounced preference for (but did not appear to discriminate between) third-instar boll weevil larvae and pupae. Parasitism of younger and older host stages was either nonexistent (eggs and first-instar larvae) or occurred at extremely low levels (second-instar larvae and unemerged teneral adults). Immature C. grandis developed with equal facility on third-instar boll weevil larvae and pupae, to a lesser extent on second-instar host larvae, and failed to develop on the remaining life stages of the host. The relationship between ovipositional preferences of C. grandis and its potential efficacy under field conditions is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Juan A. Morales-Ramos, Shoil M. Greenberg

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.
	Anthonomus grandis
Catolaccus grandis (parasitoid)	Anthonomus grandis