Abstract

DIAZ M, ANA ELIZABETH  and  BROCHERO, HELENA LUISA. Parasitoids associated with the fruit borer of the solanaceus Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Colombia. Rev. Colomb. Entomol. [online]. 2012, vol.38, n.1, pp.50-57. ISSN 0120-0488.

The diversity of natural enemies for Neoleucinodes elegantalis depends on the host plant and the ecological environment where these plants are grown. Eggs and pupae of N. elegantalis were collected and keep under controlled conditions until the emergence of parasitoids associated to these stages. Parasitoids of larvae were recovered in brood chambers from infested fruits. The highest diversity of species, abundance and wide distribution of hymenopteran parasitoid larvae and pupae were registered on lulo (Solanum quitoense). The most important larval parasitoids were the braconids: Apanteles sp., Bracon spp. (two morphospecies), and Chelonus sp., also the fly Lixophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae). As parasitoids for pupae, Ichneumonidae, Eulophidae and Chalcididae families were registered. The most abundant were Ichneumonidae species, with Pimpla sanguinipes and, species belonging to the genera Lymeon sp. and Neotheronia sp. Brachymeria sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and mostly Trichospilus diatraea in Eulophidae were found infesting pupae of N. elegantalis. Qn tree tomato (Solanum betaceum), the most abundant, more frequently collected, and widely distributed parasitoid was Copidosoma sp. (Encyrtidae). The egg parasitoid Trichogramma sp. (Trichogrammatidae) was found only on table tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). We describe the parasitic behavior observed in the field and, the geographic distribution of parasitoids. We discuss about conservation practices in solana-ceous crops.

Keywords : Biological control; Natural enemies; Hymenoptera; Fruit borer of tomato.

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