SELEÇÃO DE ESPÉCIES DE Trichogramma sp. EM OVOS DA TRAÇA-DAS-CRUCÍFERAS, Plutella xylostella

Abstract

Trichogramma species are found naturally parasitizing eggs of several lepidopteran species. Among the Trichogramma species, however, there is preference for certain lepidopteran species as host. Therefore, to succeed in a biological control program using Trichogramma is recommended to seek for more related parasitoid species to the target lepidopteran pests. Four species of the parasitoid were studied: Trichogramma acacioi Brun, Moraes & Soares, Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Planter, Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Planter and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).Thus, this study investigated three methods of evaluating Trichogramma species parasitizing Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): parasitism within 24 h period, daily parasitism rate during adult stage, and fertility life table. The parasitism within 24 h-period and the daily parasitism rate showed that T. atopovirilia and T. pretiosum. Otherwise, the fertility life table parameters showed the better performance of T. atopovirilia. Therefore, the parasitism within 24 h-period can be considered the most efficacious selection methods because requiring less time to achieve the results, however with limitations when compared with daily parasitism rate during adult stage, and fertility life table.