Parasitoids of the Pecan Casebearer, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig1 in The Comarca Lagunera, Mexico

Abstract

Parasitoids of the pecan nut casebearer (PNC), Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig, were identified and parasitism levels were determined on eggs and larvae in pecan orchards from the Comarca Lagunera (area comprising part of Coahuila and Durango, Mexico). Parasitism of eggs ranged from 0 to 13\% and of larvae from 17.2 to 18.5\%. Egg parasitoids belonged to the genus Trichogramma. The parasitoids obtained from larvae and pupae belonged to two orders, six families, 12 genera, and 12 species. Order Hymenoptera: Apanteles epinotiae Viereck and Macrocentrus instabilis Muesebeck (Braconidae), Goniozus ca nephantidis Muesebeck (Bethylidae), Venturia macilenta nitida Wahl and Eiphosoma vitticolle Cresson (Ichneumonidae), Bugacia sp. (Pteromalidae) and Doliopria sp. (Diapriidae). Order Diptera: Athrycia sp., Archytas sp., Uclecya sp., Jurinia sp. 1, and Jurinia sp. 2 (Tachinidae). The most abundant parasitoids were: A. epinotiae (24.6\%), G. ca nephantidis (14.8\%), M. instabilis (11.5\%), and Archytas sp. (11.5\%). All species and genera of parasitoids of the GBN found in this study are new records in Mexico, except for M. instabilis.