Rearing Campoplex capitator in Italy and in Chile: preliminary achievements

Abstract: In the Mediterranean wine growing areas, the parasitoid wasp Campoplex capitator was always regarded as the best candidate for the biological control of Lobesia botrana. However, its application in the field has been prevented by the arduousness to obtain a stable breeding of the species. In 2016, a mass rearing of C. capitator was started in a common research project between University of Pisa and Servicio Agricola y Ganadero of Chile (SAG). Herein we report the key features that have been addressed to obtain an established breeding of C. capitator aimed at its future release in the open field against L. botrana, which has been accidentally introduced in Chile in recent years.