Suitability of the New World stalkborer Diatraea considerata, for parasitization by three Old World braconid parasitoids, Cotesia chilonis, C. flavipes and C. sesamiae, was compared to the suitability of another New World host, Diatraea saccharalis. Both hosts are Novel Associations – that is, there is no evolutionary history between host and parasitoids. D. considerata was less suitable as a host for all three parasitoids than was D. saccharalis. D. considerata larvae frequently encapsulated parasitoid progeny, which was visible through the host cuticle. Given the suitability results, these three parasitoids would not be appropriate candidates for use against D. considerata. The results also have important implications for the narrow host range expressed by these parasitoids.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Diatraea considerata
Species 2: Hymenoptera Braconidae Cotesia flavipes
Keywords: host suitability, parasitism
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