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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206946
Title: The continuing dispersion of P. DIGONEUTIS Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an introduced parasite of the tarnished plant bug, LYGUS LINEOLARIS (Palisot) (Hemiptera: Miridae) in NE U.S.A. and SE Canada. Ent. News 119: 77-80.

Author
item Day, William
item ROMIG, R. - WEST CHESTER STATE UNIV.
item FAUBERT, H - UNIV. RHODE ISLAND
item Tatman, Kathleen

Submitted to: Entomological News
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2007
Publication Date: 3/14/2008
Citation: Day, W.H., Romig, R.F., Faubert, H., Tatman, K.M. 2008. The continuing dispersion of PERISTENUS DIGONEUTIS Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an introduced parasite of the tarnished plant bug, LYGUS LINEOLARIS (Palisot) (Hemiptera: Miridae) in northeastern U.S.A. and southeastern Canada. Entomological News. 119:77-80.

Interpretive Summary: Peristenus digoneutis is a small wasp, imported from Europe by the USDA to reduce crop damage by the tarnished plant bug (TPB) in the United States. Previous ARS research has shown that it has reduced TPB numbers in alfalfa and strawberries in the northeastern U.S., and also is associated with reduced TPB damage to apples. It is desirable to know where it is present (because reduced crop losses may result), and to know if this natural enemy is still spreading naturally. This report indicates that in 2004 this beneficial insect was present in 11 northeastern states (plus 3 Canadian Provinces), and is still dispersing into new areas, especially westward through Ohio.

Technical Abstract: Peristenus digoneutis Loan, an European species, was first established by USDA-ARS in New Jersey for the biological control of the tarnished plant bug, which damages many crops. This parasitic wasp has steadily dispersed since its establishment in 1984, and it is now present in 11 states (a 38% increase since our last report, in 2003), and has been found in 69 counties in the United States. P. digoneutis is now present in all of the northeastern states, is moving westward along the southern edge of Lake Erie, and is well established in at least three Canadian provinces.