The multiple occurrence of lepidopteran-pests in soybean can affect the Trichogramma pretiosum Riley parasitism?

• Grant number: 14/01661-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: José Roberto Postali Parra
• Grantee: Leandro Delalibera Geremias
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The release of egg parasitoids of genre Trichogramma increased in Brazil at the last years to control many Lepidoptera species. The reason for this raise is mainly because of the low efficiency of others control methods used. However, the studies about Trichogramma uses normally don't consider the co-occurrence of different pests species in crop fields but this is very common in many crops in Brazil mainly due to the expansion and intensification of agricultural crops that has occurred in the last years. This range of insect pests available for parasitoids makes possible for them to choose the best way to apply their resources (optimum clutch size). Furthermore, parasitoid acceptance by the host species available can cause behavioral and biological changes and affect your fitness and ability to search for other hosts. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of two hosts [Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker)] on biological and behavioral aspects of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and know how the availability of those hosts affects their efficiency in controlling the major lepidopteran pests of soybeans.