Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2015 Field Host Range of Apanteles opuntiarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Argentina, a Potential Biocontrol Agent of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in North America
Laura Varone, Guillermo Logarzo, Juan José Martínez, Fernando Navarro, James E. Carpenter, Stephen D. Hight
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Field exploration in Argentina for cactophagous lepidopteran hosts parasitized by the recently described braconid parasitoid Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) revealed a host range restricted to Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and C. doddi. Field collections of cactophagous larvae parasitized by the congeneric and sympatric parasitoid A. alexanderi included the host species C. bucyrus, Sigelgaita nr. chilensis, Tucumania sp., Tucumania tapiacola and Salambona sp. If a narrow host range for A. opuntiarum is confirmed in quarantine with North American cactus-feeding species, then this parasitoid could be released as a biological control agent for C. cactorum with little or no risk to non-target species.

Laura Varone, Guillermo Logarzo, Juan José Martínez, Fernando Navarro, James E. Carpenter, and Stephen D. Hight "Field Host Range of Apanteles opuntiarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Argentina, a Potential Biocontrol Agent of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in North America," Florida Entomologist 98(2), 803-806, (1 June 2015). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.098.0265
Published: 1 June 2015
KEYWORDS
Apanteles alexanderi
Apanteles opuntiarum
biological control
cactus moth
Control biológico
espectro de hospedadores
host range
Back to Top