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Establishment of Platygaster tuberosula, an introduced parasitoid of the wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

O. Olfert*
Affiliation:
Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
J.F. Doane
Affiliation:
Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
M.P. Braun
Affiliation:
Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: olferto@agr.gc.ca).

Abstract

Wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), was first detected as early as 1901 in Western Canada. The first major outbreak in Saskatchewan was recorded in 1983. In 1984, Saskatchewan wheat midge populations were found to be parasitized by the egg parasitoid Macroglenes penetrans (Kirby). Parasitism levels vary from year to year but, on average, 33% of wheat midge populations are parasitized by M. penetrans. In 1993 and 1994, Agriculture Canada and the International Institute of Biological Control in Delémont, Switzerland, collaborated to release Platygaster tuberosula Kieffer into Saskatchewan to augment biological control of wheat midge. Platygaster tuberosula individuals were recovered at low numbers in follow-up monitoring programs in each of the last 5 years. In 2001, the parasitoid population density increased fivefold at the release site and showed signs of migrating into the surrounding area.

Résumé

La cécidomyie du blé, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a été découverte dans l'ouest canadien en 1901. La première épidémie importante s'est produite en Saskatchewan en 1983. En 1984, les populations de la Saskatchewan se sont révélées parasitées par les oeufs du parasitoïde Macroglenes penetrans (Kirby). Le parasitisme varie d'année en année, mais, en moyenne, 33 % des populations de cécidomyies sont parasitées par M. penetrans. En 1993 et 1994, Agriculture Canada et l'Institut international pour la lutte biologique, à Delémont, en Suisse, ont contribué à relâcher des Platygaster tuberosula Kieffer en Saskatchewan pour augmenter l'efficacité de la lutte biologique contre la cécidomyie. De petits nombres de P. tuberulosa ont été retrouvés chaque année au cours des 5 dernières années. En 2001, la densité de la population de parasitoides a quintuplé au point de relâchement et la population a manifesté une tendance à migrer vers la région avoisinante.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2003

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