Potential of parasitoids for the control of cabbage moth in augmentative releases

Abstract

Cabbage moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is a serious insect pest on brassicas in many parts of the world. Studies of two larval parasitoids, Cotesis plutellae Kurdjumov and Diadegma semiclausum Hellen, were conducted to assess their potential for the control of the pest. Results found that susceptibility to parasitism varies at different wasp densities and host instars, the development of the two parasitoids was temperature dependent, increasing the number of wasps leads to increasing rates of parasitism and increasing wasp densities in a release will lead to higher levels of parasitism.