Monday, 15 November 2004
0084

Foraging success of three species of Trichogramma in a simulated retail environment

Matthew J. Grieshop, mgriesho@oznet.ksu.edu1, Paul W. Flinn, flinn@gmprc.ksu.edu2, and James R. Nechols, jnechols@oznet.ksu.edu1. (1) Kansas State University, Department of Entomology, 123 W. Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS, (2) USDA-ARS, Grain Marketing and Production Research Center, 1515 College Ave, Manhattan, KS

Three species of Trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Trichogramma deion Pinto and Oatman, T. ostriniae Pang et Chen, and T. pretiosum Riley) were evaluated as potential biological control agents for the Indianmeal moth (IMM) (Plodia interpunctella Hubner) in retail stores. A single shelving unit was used in each trial and foraging success was tracked via a grid of sentinel egg patches. The shelving units were either bare or were stocked with simulated packages and consisted of pallet units with five shelves measuring 1.83 m high by 1.22 m wide by 0.61 m deep. 15 sentinel egg patches were placed in identical arrangements on each shelf as well as on the floor beneath the unit. In trials with packaging, 24 cardstock boxes totaling 3.97 m2 surface area/shelf were placed on the four lower shelves. Approximately 500 female Trichogramma were released at the center of the shelving unit and allowed to forage for 48 hours and percent parasitism was recorded after seven days. Foraging success as well as the spatial pattern of parasitism differed significantly among the three Trichogramma species with T. deion performing the best of the three species. Additionally, packaging affected the foraging efficiency of T. ostriniae and T. pretiosum but did not appear to affect T. deion. The implication of the research on both the selection of Trichogramma species and release strategies for IMM management in finished stored products was discussed.


Species 1: Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae Trichogramma deion
Species 2: Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae Trichogramma pretiosum
Species 3: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)
Keywords: Stored products, Packaging

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