Egg parasitic wasp- Trichogramma pretiosum for control of caterpillars

$151.95

Title

Egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum are pale-yellow colored tiny about 0.5 to 1.5 mm in size wasps that can parasitize and kill eggs of different species of butterflies and moths, which are the most damaging pests of many crops and ornamental plants.

Facts (show all)

+ Effective against the following pests

Armyworms, Spodoptera spp
Cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni
Codling moth, Cydia pomonella
Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea
Cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera
Cutworms, Agrotis spp
Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella
European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis
Fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea
Green fruitworm, Lithophane antennata
Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar
Imported cabbage worms, Pieris rapae
Light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana
Oriental fruit moth, Graphiolitha molesta
Pyramidal fruitworm, Amphipyra pyramidoides
Speckled green fruitworms, Orthosia hibisci
Tent caterpillars, Malacosoma spp.
Tobacco hornworms, Manduca spp.
Tomato hornworms, Manduca spp.
Tomato pinworms, Keiferia lycopersicella

+ Biological Control of Lepidopterous (butterflies and moths) insects

As a biological control agents, egg parasitic wasp, Trichogramma pretiosum have a great potential to control Lepidopterous insect pets that are responsible to cause a tremendous damage to many crops grown either in the greenhouses or field.
Following are the main facts about egg parasitic wasp, Trichogramma pretiosum.

- What are egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps?

Trichogramma pretiosum are tiny about 0.5 to 1.5 mm in size wasps that parasitize and feed on the eggs of butterflies and moths. Female wasps generally use combination of chemical and visual cues to locate right size of eggs. Each female wasp then lay over 200 eggs in the eggs laid by many moths and butterflies. Depending upon size and quality of host eggs, wasp females generally lay a couple of eggs in each host egg. Inside the host eggs, Trichogramma eggs hatch into small larvae that immediately starts feeding on the host embryos and kill the developing moth or butterfly larvae/ caterpillars. While feeding on the host embryos, wasps can develop for a week and then emerge as adults and life cycle continues. Adult wasps generally feed on nectar and honeydew.

+ How egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps kill and feed on host eggs?

Eggs laid by female Trichogramma wasp inside the Lepidopterous host eggs hatch into small larvae that immediately starts feeding on the host embryos and kill the developing moth or butterfly larvae/ caterpillars.
While feeding on the host embryos, wasps develop through immature stages and emerge as adults that seek and parasitize new batches of eggs laid by butterflies and moths.
Thus this wasp will help to prevent damage caused by lepidopterous insects early in the season.

+ Which stages of butterflies and moths are killed by egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps?

The eggs

+ How many egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps should be released?

To achieve considerable control of lepidopterous insect pests, it is generally recommended to release about 10 to 50 adult Trichogramma wasps per square meter area in the greenhouses and fields.

+ When is a right time to release egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps?

The best time to release ready-to-emerge Trichogramma pretiosum when there are ample of eggs of lepidopterous insect (butterflies and moths) pests are present in the fields, gardens, greenhouses and orchards.
This timely release of wasps will help to kill the developing embryos of the host insects inside the eggs that in turn will reduce the outbreak of larvae/ caterpillars that are responsible for causing damage to field crops, greenhouse vegetables and ornamental plants, and fruits.

+ How to release egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasps?

Trichogramma pretiosum are generally shipped as pre-parasitized flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella) eggs that are placed on a cards and ready to emerge as adults.
Since adults of Trichogramma pretiosum are not long-distance flyers, these cards with ready-to-emerge parasitized eggs should be placed or hanged randomly in the areas infested with lepidopterous insects including butterflies and moths in the fields, gardens, greenhouses and orchards. Also, make sure that cards are not directly exposed to sunlight.

+ Why you need egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasp

they can reduce the crop damage by feeding on immature stages of butterflies and moths
they are very active in finding eggs of host insects
they can reproduce and continue their life cycle in the garden after first application
they are commercially available and easy to release in the greenhouses or fields

+ Why egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasp are safer than traditional pesticides

they do not damage plants
do not cause any harm to the personnel involved in their production and application
food products are safe to handle and eat when they are treated with egg parasitic Trichogramma pretiosum wasp
they do not harm humans, animals and pollute the environment

+ Research Papers

Bai, B., Luck, R.F., Forster, L., Stephens, B. and Janssen, J.A.M. 1992. The effect of host size on quality attributes of the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma pretiosum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 64: 37–48.
Noldus, L.P.J.J. 1988. Response of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum to the sex pheromone of its host Heliothis zea. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 48: 293–300.
Ruberson, J.R. and Kring, T.J. 1993. Parasitism of Developing Eggs by Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae): Host Age Preference and Suitability. Biological Control 3: 39-46.

Related Products

Egg parasitic wasp- Trichogramma brassicae for control of caterpillars
From $89.95

Heterorhabditis indica Nematodes
From $29.95

Molt-X - Azadirachtin for control of insect and nematode pests
From $219.95