Leafminer fly Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and their natural enemies on potato crop in Korea

Liriomyza leafminer flies comprise a pest group that causes both considerable economic losses and serious quarantine problems. To investigate Liriomyza spp. abundance and distribution along with natural enemies, we surveyed of foliar insect pests and natural enemies on potato crop was conducted from 354 farmers’ field in most of the potato growing provinces during 2012 and 2013. Sweeping (10 sweeps /field) and visual inspection were employed within 5 minute-walking distance each field. Distribution of L. huidobrensis on potato fields was expanding. Highest potato fields were infested with leafminer fly in Gyeongsangnam-do. Overall, potato insect species collected constituted of 7 orders, 16 families and 20 species; Aphis gossypii was the most abundant in all locations. All leafminer flies were Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard). It was dominant leafminer fly species in Miryang (Gyeongsangnam-do). Highest damage rate (100%) was recorded in Miryang and Jecheon. There was a rich complex of parasitoid species including 32 species (19 species of Eulophidae family). The Eulophid sp., Opius sp., Ganaspidium sp. and Diglyphus sp. were dominant species in sweeping. While ectoparasitoid, Diglyphus isaea and the endoparasitoid, Necochrysocharis sp. were most dominant species collected from damaged samples. The number and diversity of parasitoid species in potato crop in Korea provides insight into the development of integrated control strategies of invasive leafminer fly pests in the field and glasshouse crops.

 

Key words: Liriomyza huidobrensis, Agromyzidae, parasitoid species complex, abundance, localized distribution, provinces