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Impact of an exotic parasitoid on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) population dynamics, damage and indigenous natural enemies in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2007

B. Löhr ,
R. Gathu ,
C. Kariuki ,
J. Obiero  and
G. Gichini
B. Löhr*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
R. Gathu
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
C. Kariuki
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Katumani Research Centre, PO Box 340, 90700 Machakos, Kenya
J. Obiero
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Muguga Research Centre, PO Box 30148, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
G. Gichini
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
*
*Fax: +254 20 8632001 E-mail: blohr@icipe.org
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Abstract

Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén) (Hymenoptera: lchneumonidae), an exotic diamondback moth parasitoid, was released in two pilot areas (Werugha in Coast Region and Tharuni in Central Province) in Kenya. Fifteen month before release, observations on the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), and local natural enemy population dynamics and pest damage were initiated in both areas and continued for three years after release. The P. xylostella population was bimodal with higher records during dry seasons. At Werugha, the peak population of P. xylostella was 16.8 per plant (October 2001); at Tharuni it was 12.8 (February 2002). Populations at Werugha declined from three months after release and decreased from 5.4 per plant (before release) to 0.8 (year 3 after release). Concurrently, average damage (1.9 to 1.5) (on a 0–5 scale), proportion of attacked plants (72 to 31%) and proportion of plants in damage group >2 (plants with head damage) decreased (21.4 to 5.3%), while total parasitism increased from 14.4 (before) to 52.5% (year 3 after release, 90% due to D. semiclausum). At Tharuni, D. semiclausum was only recovered 3 months after release. Average populations of P. xylostella declined from 5.9 per plant (before release) to 2.4 (year 3 after release) and damage scores from 2.3 to 1.7. The proportion of plants in damage group >2 declined from 39.7 to 4.5% while overall parasitism increased from 4.2 to 40.6% (98.3% by D. semiclausum). Four species of indigenous parasitoids (Diadegma mollipla (Holmgren), Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov), Apanteles sp. and Itoplectis sp., all primary parasitoids) were almost completely displaced by D. semiclausum. Possible reasons for the different parasitoid development between the two release areas and the displacement of the indigenous species are discussed.

Keywords

Plutella xylostellabiological controlDiadegma semiclausumindigenous parasitoidsbiocontrol impactparasitoid displacement
Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 97 , Issue 4 , August 2007 , pp. 337 - 350
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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