Larvae-pupae parasitoids of Hylesia metabus Cramer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in northeastern Venezuela: a case of natural biological control

The moth Hylesia metabus Cramer is considered a public health pest due to the release of urticating hairs by adult females during periodic invasions of towns and villages, producing dermatits in humans. We reported natural parasitism levels for this moth during six life cycles in two localities in n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neotropical entomology 2009-03, Vol.38 (2), p.243-entomol
Main Authors: Hernández, José V, Osborn, Frances, Herrera, Beatriz, Liendo-Barandiaran, Carmen V, Perozo, José, Velásquez, Diony
Format: Article
Language:spa ; eng
Subjects:
Animals
Eulophidae
Hymenoptera
Ichneumonidae
Larva - parasitology
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera - parasitology
Perilampidae
Pest Control, Biological
Pupa - parasitology
Sarcodexia
Sarcophagidae
Saturniidae
Tachinidae
Venezuela
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Summary:The moth Hylesia metabus Cramer is considered a public health pest due to the release of urticating hairs by adult females during periodic invasions of towns and villages, producing dermatits in humans. We reported natural parasitism levels for this moth during six life cycles in two localities in northeastern Venezuela. Pupae were collected in the field and maintained under laboratory conditions (27 masculineC, 65% RH, 12L:12D photoperiod) until eclosion. In Mapire, parasitism increased from 33.0% to 91.1% in the three cycles studied, with the dipterans Belvosia spp. (Tachinidae) and Sarcodexia lambens Wiedemann (Sarcophagidae) and species from Ichneumonidae, Chalcidae, Perilampidae and Eulophidae being the most common. In Pedernales, parasitism decreased from 29.5% to 16.1%, and Belvosia spp. was the most abundant parasitoids, reaching parasitization levels between 70.7% and 96.2%. A significative parasitization by Neotheronia sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) (27.1%) occurred only in third life cycle. All natural enemies observed were koinobionts, larval-pupa parasitoids. The variations in the populations of H. metabus and its parasitoids in the areas studied are discussed. Belvosia spp. and S. lambens may have potential for use in integrated management program of H. metabus.
ISSN:1519-566X
1678-8052
DOI:10.1590/S1519-566X2009000200012