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NOCTUID MOTHS In New Zealand Agrotis ipsilon (Walker) & Mythimna
separata (Walker) Lepidoptera, Noctuidae (Contacts) ----- CLICK on Photo to enlarge &
search for Subject Matter with Ctrl/F. GO TO ALL: Bio-Control Cases Surveys in Pakistan
for parasitoids of the noctuids attacking grain crops, Agrotis ipsilon
(Hubn.) and A. segetum (Schiff.) revealed
several active species. Between 1969
and 1971, 2225 Turanogonia smirnovi Rhodain (Tachinidae),
100 Periscepsia carbonaria Panzer (Tachinidae),
1,634 Apanteles ruficrus Haliday (Braconidae),
1,250 Macrocentrus collaris Spinola (Braconidae),
and 17 Ctenichneumon panzeri Wesmael (Ichneumonidae)
were sent to New Zealand (Mohyuddin & Shah 1977). Cultures of A. ruficrus and M.
collaris were established
and 40,000 adults of A. ruficrus and 32,000 of M. collaris were released during 1971-72 in different
areas. Apanteles ruficrus
became established, giving excellent control of Mythimna separata. Mohyuddin & Shah state that the
benefits obtained from this introduction have been tremendous. Besides savings of ca. US$500,00 on
insecticides and their application in 1974-75, New Zealand instead of
importing maize exported 60-80,000 tons and earned an additional several
million dollars. Apanteles ruficrus was
actually already established in New Zealand, but the strain was ineffective
in reducing noctuids. The importation
of the Pakistani strain of this parasitoid resulted in the startling
biological control mentioned above.
It was believed that the original strain in New Zealand was heavily
hyperparasitized, while the new imports from Pakistan was not. This example of biological control further
supports the need to search for specific strains of a particular natural
enemy. REFERENCES: [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL
Library ] Carl, K. 1962. Graminaceous moth-borers in West
Pakistan. Tech. Bull. Commonw. Inst.
Biol. Contr. 2: 29-76. Cumber, R. A. 1972. Report on biological control work carried
out at the Entomology Division Station, D.S.I.R. during 1971-72. Auckland.
10 p. Mohyuddin, A. I. & S. Shah.
1977. Biological control of Mythimna separata [Lep.: Noctuidae] in New Zealand and its bearing
on biological control strategy.
Entomophaga 22: 331-33. Simmonds, F. J.
1963. Genetics and biological
control. Canad. Ent. 95: 561-67. |