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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163736
Title: FLORAL NECTARS CAN ENHANCE PARASITOIDS OF PLUTELLA XYLOSTELLA IN BRASSICA CROPS

Author
item Simmons, Alvin
item MCCUTCHEON, GLORIA - CLEMSON UNIV.
item GOURDINE, J. - CLEMSON UNIV.
item LEIBEE, GARY - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Plant Protection Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Simmons, A.M., Mccutcheon, G.S., Gourdine, J.S., Leibee, G.L. 2004. Floral nectars can enhance parasitoids of Plutella xylostella in Brassica crops. Plant Protection Conference Proceedings. p. 525.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a major pest of Brassica crops worldwide. Diadegma insulare (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is the most important larval parasitoid of P. xylostella in North America. Field and laboratory research was conducted on the effect of several sources of floral nectars on survival and rate of parasitism of D. insulare. The flowering plants consisted of: three cultivars of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (T. repens L.), wild radish (Rhaphanus raphanistrum L.), and tansy (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.). The performance of the parasitoids varied among treatments. Performance was good for parasitoids provided floral nectars of kale, but those provided floral nectars of tansy or white clover performed poorly. Manipulating certain floral nectar-producing plant species in or around a production system of Brassica crops may be a useful biological control scheme for enhancing parasitism to help manage the diamondback moth.