Trichogramma ostriniae is endemic to China where it is an effective biological control agent of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnicalis Guenée. The parasitoid has been shown to be an effective species for augmentative biological control of European corn borer in the U.S. In 2001, we evaluated the potential for nontarget impacts from T. ostriniae releases. In laboratory trials, T. ostriniae successfully parasitized several different species of Lepidoptera, including noctuids, geometrids, pyralids, and sphingids. Habitat selection and acceptance by T. ostriniae was also evaluated in the field using sentinel eggs of European corn borer placed in a variety of different plant habitats.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae Trichogramma ostriniae
Keywords: European corn borer, biological control
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA