New Zealand Plant Protection 54 (2001): 33-36
Recent introduction and establishment of the leafroller parasitoid Trigonospila brevifacies (Hardy) (Diptera: Tachinidae) in Nelson
P.W. Shaw, P. Lo and D.R. Wallis
ABSTRACT
To assist the natural distribution of the leafroller parasitoid Trigonospila brevifacies to horticultural areas in the Nelson region, 181 T. brevifacies pupae and 329 adults were released in 1999 at four sites adjacent to apple orchards near Motueka. Release material was supplied from field-collected parasitoids in Hawkes Bay and a laboratory colony held at the Mt Albert Research Centre in Auckland. Successful establishment of the parasitoid was recorded at all four sites and at a nearby non-release site in 2000. In 2000, 3-19% of fourth instar and older larvae were parasitised by T. brevifacies, while in 2001 parasitism was 11-66%. Important pest tortricid species including Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (lightbrown apple moth), were among the hosts. The successful establishment of T. brevifacies in Nelson and its further natural dispersal will increase the potential for the reduction of economically important leafroller species by biocontrol agents.
Keywords: Trigonospila brevifacies, parasitoid, leafroller, Tortricidae, biocontrol.
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