Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146600
Title: INTERACTIONS OF TWO IDIOBIONT PARASITOIDS (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE) OF CODLING MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA:TORTRICIDAE) WITH ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODE STEINERNEMA CARPOCAPSAE (RHABDITIDA: STEINERNEMATIDAE)

Author
item Lacey, Lawrence
item Unruh, Thomas
item Headrick, Heather

Submitted to: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2003
Publication Date: 7/3/2003
Citation: Lacey, L.A., Unruh, T.R., Headrick, H.L. 2003. Interactions of two idiobiont parasitoids (Hymenoptera:Ichneumonidae) of codling moth (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae) with entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida:Steinernematidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 83:230-239.

Interpretive Summary: The codling moth is a major pest of apple and other fruit in several countries worldwide. Alternatives to the use of conventional chemical pesticides for its control include mating disruption, cultural methods and the use of biological control agents (parasites, predators and pathogens). Parasitic nematodes that selectively attack insects, such as Steinernema carpocapsae, have good potential for biological control of cocooned codling moth larvae and pupae. Simultaneous use of parasitic insects and nematodes for control of codling moth could produce antagonistic interaction between the two groups resulting in death of parasitoid larvae. The results of our research provide information that will enable the compatible use of nematodes and parasitic insects for codling moth control through careful timing of treatments. The two groups have good potential for complementary control of codling moth. The parasitic insects have good ability to search for and kill codling moth larvae that survive nematode treatment.

Technical Abstract: Nematodes that selectively attack insects, such as Steinernema carpocapsae, have good potential for biological control of cocooned CM larvae and pupae. Their use along side of parasitic insects could produce antagonistic interaction between the two groups resulting in death of parasitoid larvae. Two parasitic wasps, Mastrus ridibundus and Liotryphon caudatus, that were collected in Central Asia and imported into the United States for classical biological control of cocooned codling moth larvae were studied regarding their interactions with S. carpocapsae. Exposure of M. ridibundus and L. caudatus developing larvae to infective nematodes within codling cocoons resulted in mortality that was comparable to that of codling moth larvae. However, overwintering full grown parasitoid larvae are almost completely protected from nematode penetration within their own tightly woven cocoons. Our investigations also reveal the ability of M. ridibundus and L. caudatus females to detect and avoid laying eggs on nematode-infected cocooned codling moth larvae as early as 12 hours after treatment of the host with nematodes. The compatibility of the two groups of biological control agents for codling control could be facilitated by careful timing of applications. The ability of parasitoids to avoid nematode-treated larvae and to actively seek out and kill cocooned codling larvae that survived nematode treatments enhances the complementarity of entomopathogenic nematodes and M. ridibundus and L. caudatus.