Social wasps as biological control agents against Diaphania hyalinata (Linnaeus, 1767) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), a cucumber pest in Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Diaphania hyalinata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), popularly known as “melonworm moth”, is considered a main pest of the cucumber, and depending on the intensity of infestation, the damage can reach 100%. Herein, we report the predation of D. hyalinata larvae by seven social wasp species: Brachygastra lecheguana, Polybia dimidiata, Polybia ignobilis, Polybia liliacea, Protopolybia minutissima, Synoeca surinama and Synoeca virginea, and predation of D. hyalinata pupae by Polybia liliacea. We suggest that Polybia liliacea, should be considered as a potential biological control for cucumbers, due to its high index of captured prey and intense foraging activity.