Liriomyza commelinae (Diptera: Agromyzidae): an alternative host for parasitoids of Liriomyza huidobrensis with potential use in its conservative biological control?

FENOGLIO, M.S.; SALVO, A.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT

Año: 2009 vol. 55 p. 299 - 305

0967-0874

The potential of Liriomyza commelinae (Frost) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) as an alternative host for parasitoids of the pest  leafminer  Liriomyza  huidobrensis  (Blanchard)  was  investigated.  We  particularly  focussed  on  the  specific composition of the parasitoid complex and its impact on L. commelinae, frequency of associations, dependency of parasitism on host density and additive effects of species richness on total parasitism. Mined leaves of Commelinaerecta (Commelinaceae) were collected from different localities of Co´rdoba province (Argentina) from 1991 to 1994, and also from different sites of Co´rdoba city. In total, 25 species of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) were associated with L.  commelinae,  of  which  13  were  shared  with  L.  huidobrensis.  Chrysocharis  flacilla  and  Diglyphus  websteri (Eulophidae) were the most abundant parasitoid species on L. commelinae, the former being the most frequently associated with the leafminer. Total parasitism, averaging 50%, did not depend on parasitoid species richness. No significant relationship was found between parasitism caused by the main species and host abundance. The potential for using the system C. erecta–L. commelinae in the conservation biological control of L. huidobrensis is discussed.