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Native range assessment of classical biological control agents: impact of inundative releases as pre-introduction evaluation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2009

W.H. Jenner ,
P.G. Mason ,
N. Cappuccino  and
U. Kuhlmann
W.H. Jenner*
Affiliation:
CABI Europe – Switzerland, 1 Rue des Grillons, Delémont, CH-2800, Switzerland
P.G. Mason
Affiliation:
Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6
N. Cappuccino
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
U. Kuhlmann
Affiliation:
CABI Europe – Switzerland, 1 Rue des Grillons, Delémont, CH-2800, Switzerland
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +41-32-421-4871 E-mail: w.jenner@cabi.org
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Abstract

Diadromus pulchellus Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is a pupal parasitoid under consideration for introduction into Canada for the control of the invasive leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae). Since study of the parasitoid outside of quarantine was not permitted in Canada at the time of this project, we assessed its efficacy via field trials in its native range in central Europe. This was done by simulating introductory releases that would eventually take place in Canada when a permit for release is obtained. In 2007 and 2008, experimental leek plots were artificially infested with pest larvae to mimic the higher pest densities common in Canada. Based on a preliminary experiment showing that leek moth pupae were suitable for parasitism up to 5–6 days after pupation, D. pulchellus adults were mass-released into the field plots when the first host cocoons were observed. The laboratory-reared agents reproduced successfully in all trials and radically reduced leek moth survival. Taking into account background parasitism caused by naturally occurring D. pulchellus, the released agents parasitized at least 15.8%, 43.9%, 48.1% and 58.8% of the available hosts in the four release trials. When this significant contribution to leek moth mortality is added to previously published life tables, in which pupal parasitism was absent, the total pupal mortality increases from 60.1% to 76.7%. This study demonstrates how field trials involving environmental manipulation in an agent's native range can yield predictions of the agent's field efficacy once introduced into a novel area.

Keywords

Acrolepiopsis assectellaclassical biological controlDiadromus pulchellusefficacyfield trial
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 4 , August 2010 , pp. 387 - 394
Creative Commons
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Copyright
Copyright © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Published by Cambridge University Press 2009

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