Author(s): NASCIMENTO, P. T.; FADINI, M. A. M.; VALICENTE, F. H.; RIBEIRO, P. E. de A.

Summary: This study investigated the interaction between two pest biological control agents, the parasitoidwasp Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and the entomopathogen Bacillusthuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillacea) (Bt). The aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of Bt (for-mulated products Agree®, Dipel®and HD1 and HD11 strains) interferes in the oviposition preference ofT. pretiosum to eggs of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Using an olfactometry test, the eggs ofH. zea were bathed with the commercial formulations, with the Bt suspensions or distilled water, andoffered to the parasitoid wasps in order to evaluate parasitism. The results showed that H. zea eggs sprayedwith commercial formulations and Bt strains did not interfere in the choice made by the parasitoid. Theparasitoid wasp is not able to distinguish between eggs with or without B. thuringiensis treatment, inde-pendently of strains suspension or commercial formulations. Therefore, these two control agents may beused together without negative interaction.

Publication year: 2018

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Maize & Sorghum

Keywords: Biological control, Controle Biológico, Helicoverpa Zea, Milho, Oviposition preference, Trichogramma pretiosum, Vespa, Zea Mays