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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #78219
Title: PHYSICAL MANIPULATION OF COLORADO POTATO BEETLE EGGS:EFFECTS ON PARASITIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WASP EDOVUM PUTTLERI

Author
item Hu, Jing - Hu
item Gelman, Dale
item Bell, Robert

Submitted to: BARC Poster Day
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Edovum puttleri (Grissell) is an efficacious parasite of the egg stage of the Colorado potato beetle(CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Augmentative releases of E. puttleri in fields of eggplant in New Jersey have successfully controlled populations of CPB without the use of pesticides. Costs of rearing the wasp on CPB eggs is high, development of an artificial diet is necessary. Freshly laid CPB eggs and those 24 and 30 h of age were found to be most suitable for parasitization; more than 90% of the CPB eggs were parasitized. Exposure of CPB eggs to short wave (245 nm) UV irradiation at specific times killed high percentages of CPB embryos, but did not influence percent parasitization. Exposure for long periods of time, however, greatly reduced percent wasp emergence. Freezing CPB eggs for more than 5 min significantly reduced both parasitization and emergence rates. However, more than 50% of the eggs were successfully parasitized. Removal of the sticky material coating the egg did not interfere with wasp oviposition, an important finding for designing an artificial egg. Kairomone, however, did appear to be necessary for oviposition into artificial eggs. An artificial egg made of plastic membrane and an artificial oviposition solution have been developed. E. puttleri oviposited into the artificial eggs, but the wasp eggs did not undergo embryogenesis when transferred to artificial diet. Parasite eggs removed from CPB eggs, however, did develop to the prepupal stage when reared in this diet.