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Epipyrops eurybrachydis, the ectoparasitoid and Tetrastichus krishnaiahi, the superparasitoid in the biology of the plant pest, Eurybrachys tomentosa (Fab.) (Homoptera: Fulgoridae): A case study

1995; Gazi Entomological Research Society; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

0974-4576

Sundaram Janarthanan, Muthukalingan Krishnan, David Livingstone,

Research on scale insects

The plant bug, Eurybrachys tomentosa (Fab.) is reported to be a vector of spike disease in sandal plants and as a minor pest of more than twenty plants of economic value. While studying the biology of E. tomentosa, the larvae of Epipyrops eurybrachydis (Lepidoptera: Epipyropidae) were found to be the ectoparasitoid of E. tomentosa, and Tetrastichus krishnaiahi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as superparasitoid on E. eurybrachydis. Larvae of E. eurybrachydis appeared regularly during collection, only in the female insects of E. tomentosa. The fifth instar nymphs were also found to be parasitized. Usually one larva was found to parasitize the fulgorid, but rarely more larvae were attached especially to the tegmen of the host. The ectoparasitoid's larval period ranged around 13.5 days. Pupation was observed on the food plant of the host. The pupal period lasted for 8 days. The ectoparasitoid used to feed on the haemolymph of the host by its labium which remains buried inside the host tissue. A well developed circular abdominal sucker helps the larvae to cling to the host tightly. The parasitized female was found to lay no eggs and its reproductive system was seen with slender ovarioles without any oocytes. E. eurybrachydis was observed to be a major parasitoid of E. tomentosa. The emergence of eulophid superparasitoid T. krishnaiahi, from the cocoons of epipyropid moths, E. eurybrachydis has also been reported as a rare kind of superparasitism. It was found that eulophids (superparasitoids) attacked the larvae of the ectoparasitoids before they abandoned their host (E. tomentosa) for pupation.