Evaluation of Trichogramma Ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae
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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1998 Evaluation of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as a biological control agent against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) : biological, behavioral and ecological perspectives. Baode Wang University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Wang, Baode, "Evaluation of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as a biological control agent against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) : biological, behavioral and ecological perspectives." (1998). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 5667. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/5667 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVALUATION OF TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE): BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES A Dissertation Presented by BAODE WANG Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY February 1998 Department of Entomology ©Copyright by Baode Wang 1998 All Rights Reserved EVALUATION OF TR1CHOGRAMMA OSTRIN1AE (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTR1NIA NUBILALIS (LEPEDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE): BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES A Dissertation Presented by BAODE WANG David W. Hosmer, Member Entomology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank Dr. David Ferro for providing me with the opportunity to continue my study on Trichogrctmma. This dissertation would not be possible were it not for his guidance and consistent support. Special thanks to the members of my dissertation committee Drs. Joseph Elkinton, David Hosmer for their constructive suggestions and statistical help. I would also thank Dr. Ring Carde, who served as my committee member and gave valuable suggestions before he left for UC Riverside. Drs. Michael Peters, Roy Van Driesche, Pat Vittum and Chih-Ming Yin also provided helps in one way or another. A second note of thanks goes to my friend Andy Slocombe who has been always helpful in reviewing the first drafts of chapters and giving valuable comments. He also helped me with laboratory and field experiments. I would also like to thank Andrei Alyokhin, Veronique Kerguelen, and Rolando Lopez for their help with my comprehensive exams. Jeff Boettner provided me with quite a few references for my grant proposal writing and helped me with job hunting. Conrad Lorda helped me with the Trichogrcimmci study for two summers. Richard Ferro also helped to keep the field free from weeds. Without their help, part of the dissertation would be impossible. Amity Lee and Maggie Malone have been always willing to help me. IV I thank Jean Dyer of Iowa State University for providing pupae of the European corn borer. The T. nubilalis colony was provided by Dr. Charles Mason of the University of Delaware. All my gratitude and love goes to my wife, Jian for her love, encouragement and support. My lovely son, Xiaoyu, is always a great joy to me. Finally, I would like to dedicate my dissertation to my mother Nanying Zhao and my father Benwen Wang who through their love and hard work encouraged and supported me for my college education. v ABSTRACT EVALUATION OF TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE): BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FEBRUARY 1998 BAODE WANG, B.S., ANHUI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY M S., BEIJING AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY Ph D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor David N. Ferro The biology and behavioral ecology of Trichogramma ostriniae, an introduced egg parasitoid of Ostrinia nubilalis and other lepidopteran species were studied in the laboratory and under field conditions. The inter- and intra¬ specific discrimination, competition, and the effectiveness of T. ostrinia and T. nubilale were also investigated. For T. ostriniae to complete its life cycle, it took 6.7 days at 33°C and 20 days at 17°C. Comparison of several theoretic models indicated that a transformed vi day-degree model and the Hilbert-Logan model were better for predicting the development of this parasitiod. The wasps reared on O. fiimcicalis by the seventh generation and at 27°C had a lower level of parasitism than wasps from other generations and at other temperatures. The differences among generations for the time female wasps spent drumming host eggs did not show any host and generation related trend. European corn borer egg parasitism was positively correlated with egg density. Female T. ostriniae might exhibit the Type II or Type III functional response depending on the temperature. The field data suggested a Type II functional response when data were pooled for all replicates. The effects of weather, plant size, and distribution of egg masses on egg parasitism by the wasp were studied in a sweet corn field. Logistic regression analyses indicated that percentage of eggs parasitized was negatively related to an increase in leaf area and distance of eggs from release point. Eggs on leaves in the upper third of a corn plant received much less parasitism than those on the middle and lower third. Temperature as well as the length of exposure of egg to wasps also affected the level of egg parasitism. Laboratory test on the cross breeding between T. ostriniae and T. tmbilale indicated no successful hybridization. The results of the inter- and intra-specific discrimination and competition between the two species revealed that only female Vll T. ostriniae discriminated eggs parasitized by females of the same species. When both species oviposited the same egg, T. ostriniae was most likely to be able to complete development. The level of egg parasitism by releasing T. ostriniae alone was found to be 15% higher than that by releasing T. nubilale alone, and 20% higher than by releasing a combination of the two species. Further analyses using the logistic regression model for independent and correlated data indicated T. ostriniae to be more efficient at discovering host egg masses than T. nubilale. Mutual interference between the two species was the main factor for the lower level of egg parasitism when the two species were released together. The results suggest that T. ostriniae is the better candidate for augmentative releases for control of the European corn borer, and the two species should not be released into a corn field at the same time. vm TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.iv ABSTRACT.vi LIST OF TABLES...xiii LIST OF FIGURES.xvi CHAPTER 1. THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, AND ITS NATURAL ENEMIES TRICHOGRAMMA.1 The European Corn Borer, a Serious Problem for Vegetable Growers and a Ongoing Challenge for Pest Control Practitioners.1 Broad Distribution in the US and Polyphagous Habit.1 Characteristic Damage of European Corn Borer to Corn and Peppers.2 Unusual Life History and Biology.4 Sex Pheromone and Sampling of the European Corn Borer.5 Management of the European Corn Borer.6 Trichogramma spp., Important Components of Integrated Pest Management of the European Corn Borer.8 Biosystematics and Genetics.8 Species of Trichogramma Used in the Control of the Borer and Problems.9 Previous Studies on T. ostriniae and the Focus of the Dissertation Project.10 References Cited.14 2. TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT AND OVIPOSITIONAL BEHAVIOR OF TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE.22 Abstract .22 Introduction.22 Materials and Methods.24 ix Parasitoid and Hosts.24 Temperature-Dependent Development.25 The Effects of Temperature on Successful Parasitization, Wasp Emergence and Sex Ratio.27 Ovipositional Behavior.28 Results and Discussion.29 Temperature-Dependent Development.29 The Effects of Temperature on Successful Parasitization, Wasp Emergence and Sex Ratio. 31 Ovipositional Behavior.33 References Cited.35 3. FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES OF TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE TO OSTRINIA NUBILALIS UNDER LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS.39 Abstract.39 Introduction.39 Materials and Methods.42 Host.42 Parasitoid. 42 Laboratory Study.43 Field Experiment.44 Statistical Analysis.44 Results.46 Laboratory Study.46 Field Experiment.50 Discussion.53 References Cited.56 4. IMPORTANCE OF PLANT SIZE, DISTRIBUTION OF EGG MASSES, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ON EGG PARASITISM OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER BY TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE IN SWEET CORN.61 Abstract.61 Introduction.62 X Materials and Methods 64 Experiment 1. 67 Experiment 2.68 Data Analysis. 69 Results... 71 Experiment 1. 71 Experiment 2...... 73 Discussion................... 76 References Cited.. 79 5. HYBRIDIZATION INCOMPATIBILITY, INTER- AND INTRASPECIFIC DISCRIMINATION AND COMPETITION BETWEEN TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE AND T. NUBILALE.82 Abstract.. 82 Introduction............................ 83 Materials and Methods.84 Experimental Settings.85 Hybridization Test.... 85 Host Acceptance... 86 Time Spent in Host Egg Finding, Examining and Inserting.88 Inter-Specific Competition..