Journal of Biological Control

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

First Host Record for Dichrogaster fulvescens seminigra Townes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), a Parasitoid of Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Associated with Tea Ecosystem


Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, Valparai-642 127, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Malappuram–673 635, Kerala, India
 

The larva of green lacewing, Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) is an important predator of red spider mite (RSM) Oligonychus coffeae, infesting tea. Mallada desjardinsi is reported as potential biological control of RSM, but the report on its parasitoids is scarce. Here we report the parasitism of M. desjardinsi by a species of ichneumon wasp. Mallada desjardinsi is the first host report for Dichrogaster fulvescens seminigra Townes, a sub species of Dichrogaster fulvescens. Five field collected larvae of M. desjardinsi were being found to be parasitized by this parasitoid. Dichrogaster fulvescens emerged after 9.5 d of pupal period. A broader understanding of the tritrophic level interactions that encompasses parasitoid-predator can enhance our ability to design effective biological control strategies.


Keywords

Oligonychus coffeae, Predator, Parasitoid, Tea, Mallada desjardinsi.
User
Notifications

  • Babu A, Selvasundaram R, Muraleedharan N, Sasidhar R. 2004. A new predator of red spider mites. New. UPASI Tea Res. Foundation 14: 1–2.

  • Carlson RW. 1979. Ichneumonidae. In: Krombein KV, Hurd PD, Smith DR, Burks BD (eds).Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico 1, pp 315–710. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

  • Clancy DW. 1946. The insect parasites of the Chrysopidae (Neuroptera). University of California Publications, Berkeley 7: 403–496.

  • Coppel HC, Mertins J.W. 1977: Biological Insect Pest Suppression. Springer, Berlin. 314 p.

  • Das GM. 1959: Bionomics of the tea red spider, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner). Bull Entomol Res. 50: 265–274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300054572

  • Gauld ID.1991. The Ichneumonidae of Costa Rica, 1. Introduction, keys to subfamilies, and keys to the species of the lower Pimpliform subfamilies Rhyssinae, Poemeniinae, Acaenitinae and Cylloceriinae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 47: 1–589.

  • Gillespie DR, Opit G, Roitberg B. 2000. Effects of temperature and relative humidity on development, reproduction and predation in Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Biol Control 17: 132–138. http://dx.doi: 10.1006/bcon.1999.0782

  • Judd WW. 1950. Emergence of the lacewing, Chrysopa harrisii Fitch (Neuroptera) and three hymenopterous parasites from the cocoon. Ann Entomol Soc Am. 42: 461–464.

  • Kabissa JCB, Yarro JC, Kayumbo HY, Juliano SA. 1996. Functional responses of two chrysopid predators feeding on Helicoverpa armigera (Lep.: Noctuidae) and Aphis gosssypii (Hom.: Aphididae). Entomophaga 41: 141–151. http://dx.doi: 10.1007/BF02764242

  • Mani M, Krishnamoorthy A. 1987. Feeding potential and development of lacewings, Mallada boninensis (Okamota) on the grape mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). Entomon 14: 19–21.

  • McEwen P, New TR, Whittington AE. 2001: Lacewings in the Crop Environment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 546 p.

  • Muraleedharan N, Sudarmani DNP, Selvasundaram R. 2005. Bioecology and management of the red spider mite infesting tea in south India. In: Proceedings of International symposium on Innovation in tea science and sustainable development in tea industry. China Tea Science Society, Hangzhou China, pp. 756–766.

  • Pantaleoni RA. 1987. Studi sui parassitoidi (Hym. Ichneumonidae et Pteromalidae) di Chrysoperla carnea (St.) (Neur. Chrysopidae) che ricercano ed aggrediscono gli staid racchiusi nel bozzolo. Instisuto di Entomologia “Guido Grandi” dell’Universita di Bologna, 41: 241–255.

  • Radhakrishnan, B. 2014: Recent advances in tea research. Planter Chronicle 110: 32-37.

  • Schwarz M, Shaw MR. 2000. Western Palaearctic Cryptinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the National Museums of Scotland, with nomenclatural changes, taxonomic notes, rearing records and special reference to the British check list. Part 3. Tribe Phygadeuontini, subtribes Chiroticina, Acrolytina, Hemitelina and Gelina (excluding Gelis), with descriptions of new species. Entomol Gaz 51: 147–186.

  • Selvakumaran S, Kallil M, Devasahayam S. 1996. Natural enemies of two major species of scale insects infesting black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in India. Pest Manag Horti Eco. 2: 79–83.

  • Selvasundaram R, Muraleedharan N. 2003. Red spider mite biology and control. UPASI Handbook of Tea Culture. UPASI Tea Research Foundation 18, 4p.

  • Symondson WOC, Sunderland KD, Greenstone MH. 2002. Can generalist predators be effective biocontrol agents. Ann Rev Entomol. 47: 561–594.

  • http://dx.doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.47.091201.145240

  • Townes H. 1983. Revisions of twenty genera of Gelini (Ichneumonidae). Memoir Am Entomol Inst 35: 1–281.

  • Vasanthakumar D, Kumar RA, Rahman JV, Kumar P, Sundaravadivelan C, Babu A. 2012. Enhancement of reproductive potential of Mallada boninensis Okamoto (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), a predator of red spider mite infesting tea: an evaluation of artificial diets. Arch of Biol Sci. 64: 281–285. http://dx.doi: 10.2298/ABS1201281V

  • Vasanthkumar D, Babu A. 2013. Life table and efficacy of Mallada desjardinsi (Chrysopidae: Neuroptera), an important predator of tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Exp Appl Acarol. 61: 43-47. http://dx.doi: 10.1007/s10493-013-9664-z.

  • Yu DS, van Achterberg C, Hortsmann K. 2012. Home of Ichneumonoidea. Available from: http://www.taxapad.com (accessed 19 September 2015).


Abstract Views: 291

PDF Views: 137




  • First Host Record for Dichrogaster fulvescens seminigra Townes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), a Parasitoid of Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Associated with Tea Ecosystem

Abstract Views: 291  |  PDF Views: 137

Authors

K. K. Srikumar
Department of Entomology, UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, Valparai-642 127, Tamil Nadu, India
A. P. Ranjith
Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Malappuram–673 635, Kerala, India
B. S. Kumar
Department of Entomology, UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, Valparai-642 127, Tamil Nadu, India
B. Radhakrishnan
Department of Entomology, UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, Valparai-642 127, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


The larva of green lacewing, Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) is an important predator of red spider mite (RSM) Oligonychus coffeae, infesting tea. Mallada desjardinsi is reported as potential biological control of RSM, but the report on its parasitoids is scarce. Here we report the parasitism of M. desjardinsi by a species of ichneumon wasp. Mallada desjardinsi is the first host report for Dichrogaster fulvescens seminigra Townes, a sub species of Dichrogaster fulvescens. Five field collected larvae of M. desjardinsi were being found to be parasitized by this parasitoid. Dichrogaster fulvescens emerged after 9.5 d of pupal period. A broader understanding of the tritrophic level interactions that encompasses parasitoid-predator can enhance our ability to design effective biological control strategies.


Keywords


Oligonychus coffeae, Predator, Parasitoid, Tea, Mallada desjardinsi.

References