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1 April 2005 Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae) in Northern Thailand
Brent Rowell, Nittayaporn Bunsong, Kosin Satthaporn, Sompian Phithamma, Charnnarong Doungsa-ard
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Abstract

Larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae), cause severe economic damage to cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata (Brassicaceae) and related vegetables in Thailand. Overuse of broad-spectrum insecticides for diamondback moth control is a serious problem and has obscured the contributions of indigenous parasitoids. Our objectives were to identify indigenous diamondback moth parasitoids in northern Thailand and to assess their potential for natural control. Six parasitoid species were reared from diamondback moth larvae and pupae collected in 1990 and in 2003–2004. These included the larval parasitoid Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov (Braconidae), a larval-pupal parasitoid Macromalon orientale Kerrich (Ichneumonidae), and pupal parasitoids Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria excarinata Gahan (Chalcididae). Single specimens of Isotima sp. Förster (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria lasus Walker (Chalcididae) also were reared from diamondback moth hosts. C. plutellae was the dominant larval parasitoid and was often reared from host larvae collected from fields sprayed regularly with insecticides; parasitism ranged from 14 to 78%. Average parasitism by M. orientale was only 0.5–6%. Parasitism of host pupae by D. collaris ranged from 9 to 31%, whereas B. excarinata pupal parasitism ranged from 9 to 25%. An integrated pest management (IPM) protocol using simple presence-absence sampling for lepidopterous larvae and the exclusive use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or neem resulted in the highest yields of undamaged cabbage compared with a control or weekly sprays of cypermethrin (local farmer practice). IPM programs focused on conservation of local diamondback moth parasitoids and on greater implementation of biological control will help alleviate growing public concerns regarding the effects of pesticides on vegetable growers and consumers.

Brent Rowell, Nittayaporn Bunsong, Kosin Satthaporn, Sompian Phithamma, and Charnnarong Doungsa-ard "Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae) in Northern Thailand," Journal of Economic Entomology 98(2), 449-456, (1 April 2005). https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493-98.2.449
Received: 11 August 2004; Accepted: 1 January 2005; Published: 1 April 2005
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KEYWORDS
Brachymeria excarinata
Brassica oleracea
Cotesia plutellae
Diadromus collaris
Macromalon orientale
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