ABSTRACT
Evaluation of five species of Trichogramma as biological control agents for Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae)

Cristián Torres P. y Marcos Gerding P.1
 

Research was carried out to evaluate the potential effectiveness of different species of Trichogramma as biological control agents of Cydia pomonella (L.). Five species of Trichogramma were evaluated: T. cacoeciae, T. dendrolimi (strain D9), T. platneri and the native species Trichogramma sp. "Cato" and T. nerudai. They were evaluated by a preference test for eggs of C. pomonella and Anagasta kuehniella, and obligated parasitism on eggs of C. pomonella. Data were recorded after the fifth day of exposure of the Trichogramma to their host. T. nerudai and T. cacoeciae parasitized more eggs of C. pomonella, 65.34% and 52.66% respectively, than the other species. T. cacoeciae and Trichogramma sp. "Cato" showed a preference for C. pomonella eggs as compared to the other Trichogramma. T. nerudai did not reveal a preference for any host. T. dendrolimi and T. platneri displayed a preference for A. kuehniella eggs.

Keywords: Codling moth, biological control, apple.
1 Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Centro Regional de Investigación Quilamapu, Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile. e-mail: mgerding@inia.cl.