The Canadian Entomologist (1997) 129, 831-841

R.J. West and M. Kenis (1997)
Screening four exotic parasitoids as potential controls for the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
The Canadian Entomologist 129 (5), 831-841
Abstract: Among the 20 geometrid species recovered from annual surveys in coniferous forests in the Swiss Alps, three species, Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen), Agriopis aurantiaria Hübner, and Poecilopsis isabellae Harrison, were identified as sources for parasitoids that might be suitable as candidates for introduction to Newfoundland to control the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guenée). Four univoltine Hymenoptera were identified as candidates: Dusona contumax (Forster) (Ichneumonidae) from A. aurantiaria, Dusona sp. from P. isabellae, Aleiodes cf. gastritor (Thunberg) (Braconidae) from E. autumnata, and Aleiodes. sp. from P. isabellae. The candidate parasitoids were confined with their native hosts in the laboratory and observations made to gather basic biological information and define protocols for screening.
Small numbers of these parasitoids were shipped to Newfoundland and screened in the laboratory against hemlock looper larvae. Although attacks by D. contumax, Dusona sp., and A. cf. gastritor were observed, parasitoid development did not occur. All parasitoid eggs recovered from the hemlock looper larvae attacked were encapsulated. Dusona contumax, Dusona sp. from P. isabellae, A. cf. gastritor, and Aleoides sp. from P. isabellae are not recommended for introduction against the eastern hemlock looper.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Marc Kenis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lambdina fiscellaria		Canada (east)