Using of Trichogramma evanescens west (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) for controlling Arenipses sabella hmpson and Batrachedra amydraula meyrick in the date palm fields at the new valley-Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Five years of field trials were conducted to investigate the efficacy of releasing the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens West. (Hym. Trichogrammatidae) on controlling Arenipses sabella Hmpson and Batrachedra amydraulaMeyrick(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)at El-Kharga Oasis, New Valley, Egypt. Five farms of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) represented about 30Km were used during this study from 2009 to 2013.
Release of T. evanescens for one time (beginning of May) by the rate of ten releasing envelopes (20,000 parasitized eggs/feddan) induced a remarkable reduction in the infestation levels with the greater date moth and the lesser date.
In the case of A. sabella as a result of Trichogramma parasitoid releasing, the reduction increased after the successive parasitoid releasing to reach the maximum level (72.78%) in 2013 season. Generally, the reduction rate of the infestation of the pest ranged between 59.41 and 77.38% with an average of 70.26% in the all experimental locations. The rate of damaged bunches, as a result of infestation with the greater date moth, decreased from 42.86% at control to 12.36% at the Trichogramma parasitoid releasing locations.
Concerning to B. amydraula, the reduction increased after the successive parasitoid releasing to reach the high level (75.06%) in 2013 season. In general, the reduction rate of the infestation with the leaser date moth ranged between 72.49 and 75.97% with an average of 73.74% in the all experimental locations.
The rate of date fruit falling, as a result of infestation with B. amydraula, decreased from 7.22% at control at the 2.00% as a result of Trichogramma parasitoid releasing locations.

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