Abstract
Augmentative releases of the tachinidLixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) at 3 plantations in south Louisiana at 3 rates [\(\bar X = control\) (none), 119–129 (light), and 796–924 (heavy) mated Φ/ha] resulted in an average of 25% parasitization byL. diatraeae of 1st-generation larvae of the sugarcane borer,Diatraea saccharalis (F.), in all plots. Therefore, parasite dispersal apparently negated rate effects, and results within plantations were pooled.
L. diatraeae parasitized 4th-or-later stage larvae most often and seldom parasitized 1st-or-2nd stage larvae; no pupae produced a parasite. Only 7% of the parasitized larvae collected produced more than 1L. diatraeae parasite.
The average rate of parasitization byL. diatraeae after the releases was 4.1% at Georgia, 8.7% at Raceland, and 35.7% at Gayosa. During this same period, parasitism by a natural population ofAgathis stigmaterus (Cresson) was 11.9% at Georgia, 3.2% at Gayosa, and 2.6% at Raceland. Parasitism byL. diatraeae andA. stigmaterus plus other factors, such as cultivars and field isolation caused the average number of unparasitized borer larvae per ha to be 1.8–3.2 times higher at Georgia and Raceland Plantations, respectively, than at Gayosa Plantation. Nevertheless, the economic injury threshold, the point at which insecticides are applied, was exceeded at Gayosa as well as the other 2 plantations.
Résumé
Des lâchers additionnels de la tachinaireLixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) dans 3 plantations du sud de la Louisiane à 3 taux [
(0), 119–129 (dose faible) et 796–924 (dose forte) femelles accouplées/ha] ont abouti à une moyenne de 25% de parasitisme parL. diatraeae de la 1re génération du foreur de la canne à sucre,Diatraeae saccharalis (F.) dans toutes les parcelles. La dispersion du parasite a donc apparemment effacé l'effet des taux de lâchers et les résultats à l'intérieur des plantations ont été mélangés.
L. diatraeae parasite le plus souvent les larves du 4e ou du dernier stade et rarement celles du 1er ou 2e stade; aucune chrysalide n'a donné de parasites. Seulement 7% des larves parasitées collectées ont produit plus de 1L. diatraeae. Le taux moyen de parasitisme parL. diatraeae après les lâchers fut de 4,1% à Georgia, 8,7% à Raceland et 35,7% à Gayosa. Pendant la même période le parasitisme par une population naturelle deAgathis stigmaterus (Cresson) a été de 11,9% à Georgia, 3,2% à Gayosa et 2,6% à Raceland. Le parasitisme parL. diatraeae etA. stigmaterus, plus d'autres facteurs tels que la nature des cultivars et l'isolement des champs de canne, ont été à l'origine du fait que le nombre moyen à l'ha de larves non parasitées fut de 1,8 et 3,2 fois plus élevé dans les plantations de Georgia et de Raceland, respectivement, que dans celle de Gayosa. Néanmoins le seuil de nuisibilité économique, qui détermine les traitements insecticides, fut dépassé à Gayosa de même que dans les 2 autres plantations.
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In cooperation with the Mississippi Agricultural Forestry Experiment Station, Stoneville and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. Formerly at U.S. Sugarcane Station, Houma, LA 70360, now 1400 Levee Drive, Houma, LA 70360.
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King, E.G., Sanford, J., Smith, J.W. et al. Augmentative release ofLixophaga diatraeae [Dip.: Tachnidae] for suppression of early-season sugarcane borer populations in Louisiana. Entomophaga 26, 59–69 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371834
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371834