Abstract
Twenty seven species of insects and mites are associated withLoranthus spp. in Pakistan of which 12 insects appear to be restricted feeders. Of the latter, 6 species are extremely rare for reasons yet unknown while the remaining 6 occur in reasonable numbers and cause appreciable damage. The phenology, biology and host-specificity of 4 of these (Euzopherodes ephestialis Hamps [Lep.: Pyralidae],Demarchus pubipennis Jacoby [Col.: Chrysomelidae], Anarsia sagmatica Meyr, [Lep.: Gelechiidae] andCeratitella asiatica Hardy [Dipt.: Tephritidae]) have been investigated and the insects found to be specific and potentially effective biocontrol agents. The other 2 (Delias eucharis Dr. [Lep.: Pieridae] andZelleria loranthivora Meyr. [Lep.: Yponomeutidae], have not as yet been so studied but they also seem to be specific and so promising natural enemies.
Résumé
Vingt-sept espèces d'insectes et d'acariens vivent surLoranthus spp. au Pakistan, parmi lesquels 12 insectes apparaissent être des consommateurs exclusifs. Six de ces espèces sont très rares pour des raisons inconnues tandis que les 6 autres sont en nombre appréciable et causent des dégâts notables. On a étudié la phénologie, la biologie et la spécificité de 4 de ces espèces:Euzopherodes ephestialis Hamps.,(Lep.: Pyralidae); Demarchus pubipennis Jacoby,(Col.: Chrysomelidae); Anarsia sagmatica Meyr.,(Lep.: Gelechiidae) etCeratitella asiatica Hardy (Dipt.: Tephritidae). Elles ont été reconnues spécifiques et valables pour la lutte biologique contreLoranthus. Deux autres insectes (Delias eucharis Dr. etZelleria loranthivora Meyr.) ne sont pas encore suffisamment étudiés mais paraissent également spécifiques et pouvoir être utilisés en lutte biologique.
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Mushtaque, M., Baloch, G.M. Possibilities of biological control of mistletoes,Loranthus Spp., using oligophagous insects from Pakistan. Entomophaga 24, 73–81 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02377512
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02377512