Efecto del sustrato de cría de Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) sobre el parasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley)

Abstract

Species of the genus Trichogramma are characterized by being parasitoids of Lepidoptera eggs, which is why they have been
massified and distributed commercially for the biological control of various pests. One of the necessary parameters for the production of high quality Trichogramma is the availability of larger host eggs. Therefore, the effect of two breeding substrates for Sitotroga cerealella, wheat (T) and creole maize (MC), on the parasitism of Trichogramma pretiosum, was determined. With the substrate, changes were induced in the development of the moth and the production of eggs of variable size, which enhances the parasitism of Trichogramma. Parasitism (P), emergence rate (TE), wing condition (CA), sex ratio (H:M), and cold storage (AF) were determined under laboratory conditions. The results did not present significant differences in the evaluated parameters (P, TE, CA, H:M) of T. pretiosum on the eggs of S. cerealella from T and MC. However, TE after 15 days of AF was significantly higher in S. cerealella eggs reared on MC (78,50 ± 15,35%) than on T (45,75 ± 11,32%) (p = 0,013). The results indicate that MC is a promising breeding substrate for the production of S. cerealella eggs