Biological Control of Insect Pests: Southeast Asian Prospects - EcoPort

192 Biological Control of Insect Pests: Southeast Asian Prospects
CHINA
The life history of L. orbonalis was studied by Yin (1993), in Hunan where
up to 6 generations were completed annually and overwintering occurred in
the pupal stage. Yang (1982) recorded two pupal parasitoids, the
polyembryonic wasp Dermatopelte sp., causing 16% parasitisation (and
producing 12 to 21 individuals per host pupa) and an unidentified dipteran
causing 5% to 8% mortality. A predator, Chrysopa kulingensis consumed
12.5% of eggs and 2% to 4% of larvae. A disease, presumably of bacterial
origin, killed 2% to 3% of larvae.
INDIA, SRI LANKA
The ichneumonid Trathala flavoorbitalis appears to be the most effective
parasitoid so far recorded, with an average parasitisation rate in Sri Lanka of
36.2% (Sandanayake and Edirisinghe 1992). In Hanyana, India, Naresh et al.
(1986a) recorded rates from 12.9% to 18.2% and in Bihar, Mallik et al.
(1989) 3.6% to 9.1%. These were higher than the combined rates of 1% to
2% by Phanerotoma sp. and Campyloneura sp.. T. flavoorbitalis is a very
widespread species and attacks the larvae of many species of Lepidoptera.
Bracon sp. from near Bangalore, India, with a parasitisation rate ranging up
to 28.1% (Tewari and Sardana 1987a), Chelonus sp. ranging up to 5.5%
(Sandanayake and Edirisinghe 1992) and Itamoplex sp. up to 15% (Verma
and Lal 1985) are all capable of producing significant mortality.
PHILIPPINES
A dermapteran larval predator and 5 parasitoids (the braconids Apanteles sp.
(on larvae) and Chelonus sp. (on pupae), the chalcidids Brachymeria lasus
(= B. obscurata) and Brachymeria sp. (larvae and pupae), and the
ichneumonid Xanthopimpla punctata) were found attacking L. orbonalis in
the field. Apanteles sp. and the dermapteran were the most abundant
(Navasero 1983). It appears that L. orbonalis has only been recognised in the
Philippines since the early 1970s.
Attempts at biological control
There have been none.
Major natural enemies
Bracon sp. Hym.: Braconidae
This larval ectoparasitoid was found near Bangalore, India attached to the
thorax of the host larva. It pupated in a silk cocoon inside the tunnel made by
its host and caused parasitisation ranging from 9.2% to 28.1%. It was
regarded as a promising parasitoid (Tewari and Sardana 1987a).