Inventory and bioecological aspects of parasitoids of the genus Erinnys ello (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in cassava crops - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v28i2.1111

Abstract

This work aimed to study the population dynamics, to determinate the species of Trichogramma occurring in cassava crops in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, as well as to evaluate biological parameters of those parasitoids associated to Erinnys ello (Linnaeus, 1758). This study was carried out from January of 2000 to February of 2003, in plants taken at 15-days intervals. The collected eggs were kept in laboratorial climatic chambers at 25±2ºC, RH of 70±10% and 12h photophase. During the collecting period, variations were observed in the population dynamics of Trichogramma spp.. Variations were also observed in the months of high rainfall when, due to the high host occurrence, the parasitoids presented the highest population density. The average rate of natural parasitism of E. ello eggs was 52.6%, the sex ratio was 0.8, and deformation was 0.4%. Two species were notified on E. ello: Trichogramma demoraesi Nagaraja, 1983 and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879.