Wind effect on the short dispersion of the parasitoid Amitus fuscipennis MacGown and Nebeker (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) on bean and snap bean crops

Abstract

The parasitoid Amitus fuscipennis MacGown and Nebeker (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) is a promising biological control agent of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), however, dispersal distance and the effect of the wind in the direction of dispersion of A. fuscipennis in field crops are unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was determined short-distance dispersal of A. fuscipennis on bean and snap bean crops with greenhouse whitefly. A. fuscipennis was monitored through red fluorochrome labeled wasps recaptured on yellow sticky traps of 1, 1, 5, and 2 m. of height located at 4, 8 and 12 m away from the release point respectively. The results show that A. fuscipennis dispersed to 12 m with no differences (P> 0.05) in the average adult recaptured in the three distances tested. The average recapture rate was 2, 06 % and the highest rate of recapture eastbound 15, 08 % suggest that the parasitoid could spread over 12 m and the wind contributes to passive dispersal once the insect started flying. The parasitoid is preferably dispersed in the direction of the prevailing wind at low latitudes of Los Andes. These aspects are relevant when releasing A. fuscipennis in landscapes composed of host and non-host crops of T. vaporariorum to reduce the dispersion of parasitoids to non-target crops.

Keywords

• Trialeurodes vaporariorum
• marcaje
• recaptura