Biological control of Penicillaria jocosatrix (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on mango on Guam with notes on the biology of its parasitoids.
Nafus D.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam, 96923 Mangilao, Guam.
Environmental Entomology 20 : 1725-1731
Abstract : Penicillaria jocosatrix consumes new leaves, flowers and fruits of mango and has been a serious pest on Guam. Before 1986, few natural enemies were present and there were no parasitoids. The wasps Aleiodes sp. and Euplectrus sp. and the fly Blepharella lateralis were released. Aleiodes sp. did not establish, but Euplectrus sp. and B. lateralis did. Populations of the pest fell to 25% of their pre-release levels. Parasitism rates ranged from 20 to 99%. Euplectrus sp. was the most abundant parasitoid. It parasitized all instars, but was more common on 2nd and 3rd instars. More eggs were laid on older instars of the pest. Euplectrus sp. was more abundant in the dry season whereas B. lateralis was more common in the wet season. Fruit production on monitored trees increased significantly after the parasitoids became effective.