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Efficacy assessment of some Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in controlling the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

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Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess several life-history characteristics of three Trichogramma species—T. cacoeciae, T. evanescens, and T. principium—reared on potato tuber moth eggs. The effects of host age, parasitoid age, and different temperatures on the mean number of parasitized eggs and the percentage of emerged progeny were determined. The age of both Trichogramma and host eggs significantly affected the number of eggs parasitized by the wasps, but did not affect the percentage of parasitoids emerging from parasitized eggs. No intraspecific differences for potato tuber moth eggs were found among the tested Trichogramma species. However, T. principium proved to be more effective than T. cacoeciae and T. evanescens in parasitizing host eggs at high temperatures (>33 °C). Trichogramma significantly decreased the number of potato tuber moth F1 emerged progeny when they were released with moths in small cages either over potatoes or potato seedlings.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. I. Othman (General Director) and Dr. N. Sharabi for their help and support. This work was supported, in part, by contract no. 10781 of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. Vienna, Austria.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, P.O. Box 6091, Damascus, Syria

    G. Saour

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  1. G. Saour
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Saour, G. Efficacy assessment of some Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in controlling the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). J Pest Sci 77, 229–234 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-004-0058-1

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