ABUNDANCE AND PARASITIC HABITS OF SOME PARASITOIDS OF THE NANTUCKET PINE TIP MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractAdult emergence curves of the Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock), and 27 members of its parasitoid complex were compared for four generations in the Georgia piedmont. Based on numbers of emerging adults, parasitism of the three 1975 R. frustrana generations was 42%. Two parasitoids, Lixophaga mediocris Aldrich and Compoplex frustranae Cushman, comprised 45 and 23% of all parasitoids, respectively.Emergence curves of R. frustrana and parasitoids showed considerable overlap. It appears unlikely that foliar applications of broad spectrum insecticides for control of R. frustrana can be timed to prevent heavy parasitoid mortality.Eleven species of parasitoids were reared directly from host larvae or pupae. Examination of host remains showed that some species of parasitoids may be either primary or secondary. The habits of Haltichella rhyacionae Gahan and Spilochalcis flavopicta Cresson were found to be more diverse than previously reported and include internal secondary and primary parasitism, respectively.