BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2012 Parasitoids of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae) recovered in western North America and first record of its egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in California
Matteo Maltese, Virgilio Caleca, Emilio Guerrieri, Ward B. Strong
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The parasitoid complex of the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, was studied in British Columbia and California on Pinus monticola and P. contorta var. latifolia. Three egg-parasitoid species were identified: Gryon pennsylvanicum (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), Ooencyrtus johnsoni (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Anastatus pearsalli (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Leptoglossus occidentalis represents a new host record for O. johnsoni, and California is a new distribution record for G. pennsylvanicum. Gryon pennsylvanicum was the dominant species during the entire oviposition period of the bug, reaching peak parasitization levels in July (25%). Ooencyrtus johnsoni and A. pearsalli emerged only from eggs collected on Pinus monticola. The parasitization level by G. pennsylvanicum recorded on the two different Pinaceae hosts did not show any statistically significant difference. No tachinid eggs or exit holes by tachinid larvae were observed in any adult L. occidentalis collected in either British Columbia or California. The data collected encouraged the introduction of G. pennsylvanicum in Italy where L. occidentalis has become a serious pest. Laboratory host range assessment with this Platygastridae, in preparation for its field release in Italy, has already started.

Matteo Maltese, Virgilio Caleca, Emilio Guerrieri, and Ward B. Strong "Parasitoids of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae) recovered in western North America and first record of its egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in California," The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 88(3), 347-355, (1 July 2012). https://doi.org/10.3956/2012-23.1
Received: 27 March 2012; Published: 1 July 2012
KEYWORDS
Anastatus pearsalli
British Columbia
Ooencyrtus johnsoni
Western conifer seed bug
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top