Primary parasitoids (Diptera) of golden tortoise beetles (Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on morning glory plants in New York

Parasitoids, parasites that kill their host once it is completely consumed for nutritional purposes during larval growth, can be found in insect populations all over the world. Usually the host is injected with the parasitoid egg during an early larval instar. The parasitoid ecloses within the larval host and immediately begins feeding in order to obtain the nutrients and proteins necessary for growth from the first instar through the pupae stage, at which point the parasitoid may eject itself from the host and develop a puparium or may leave as an adult. Parasitoids, like predators and parasites, serve as population controls through the interspecific relationship of parasitism. Parasitoids can play a major role in the population dynamics of various host insect populations. Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor, the golden tortoise beetle, can be found throughout much of the United States including western New York feeding on various species of Convolvulaceae, or Morning Glory. C. sexpunctata bicolor were recently found to be parasitized by a member of the Tachinidae family. We compared growth and survivorship of C. sexpunctata bicolor larvae collected in the field to those reared in a laboratory. Once the population dynamics of this interspecific relationship are determined, future studies will focus on the possible use of parasitoids to control beetles in sweet potato (Ipomoea battatas) as a natural pest control.