Dispersal of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) ingreenhouse pepper for biological control of European corn borerOstrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Abstract: The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, is an economic pest ofgreenhouse sweet pepper in Ontario and no adequate biological controls currently exist for thispest. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of an egg parasitoid,Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen, as a biocontrol agent for ECB. Results of this studyindicate that T. ostriniae can disperse to the upper canopy of greenhouse peppers. Although thenumber of infested fruits obtained from treated plots was not significantly less than that in thecontrol plots, further work with release rates and strategies to prolong the period of emergenceand longevity of the parasitoids are needed to determine if such factors can significantly reducedamage by ECB in greenhouse peppers.