We assessed the ability of Trichogramma ostriniae (Peng & Chen) to control European corn borer (ECB),Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), in sweet pepper. Inundative releases of T. ostriniae were conducted in fields of ‘Paladin’ and ‘King Arthur’ bell pepper in Virginia and Pennsylvania (respectively) in 2002 and 2003. Releases consisted of 30,000-50,000 T. ostriniae per pepper plot (0.2 ha) on 5 sequential dates. Effectiveness of parasitoid releases at controlling ECB was evaluated using weekly inspections of in situ ECB egg masses that were collected and monitored for emergence of adult T. ostriniae. In addition percent damaged fruit was tallied at harvest. Percentage of damaged fruit was significantly reduced by approximately 50% in plots with T. ostriniae compared to non-release plots.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae Trichogramma ostriniae
Species 2: Lepidoptera Crambidae Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)
Keywords: inundative release, biological control
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