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LARVAL AND PUPAL PARASITISM OF THE FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR, MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA HÜBNER (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE), IN ALBERTA, CANADA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Dylan Parry
Dylan Parry
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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Abstract

Larval and pupal parasitoids were studied from collections made in endemic, outbreak, and post-outbreak populations of forest tent caterpillar (FTC), Malacosoma disstria, at 21 sites in Alberta, Canada, from 1989 to 1994. The parasitoid complex included 18 identified species. Aleiodes malacosomatos (Mason) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was common in low density populations and was the only species to attack FTC larvae prior to the fourth instar. Leschenaultia exul (Townsend) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was the most abundant larval parasitoid in endemic populations and after the 2nd year of outbreak. Although prevalent early in outbreaks, Patelloa pachypyga (Aldrich and Webber) (Diptera: Tachinidae) declined in older outbreaks possibly because it completes larval development later than other tachinids, leaving it vulnerable to competition from aggressive pupal parasitoids. I hypothesize that early initiation of oviposition allows L. exul to be more successful than P. pachypyga in low density populations because caterpillars have dispersed before the latter species initiates oviposition. I recorded lower pupal parasitism by Arachnidomyia aldrichi (Parker) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in Alberta than has been recorded in other regions, although it was still the most abundant parasitoid reared in this study. Parasitism by A. aldrichi was significantly higher in cocoons collected from undergrowth vegetation than from the forest canopy. Other pupal parasitoids contributed relatively little to FTC mortality.

Résumé

Les parasitoïdes des larves et des nymphes ont été étudiés à partir d’échantillons prélevés dans des populations endémiques, épidémiques et post-épidémiques de Livrées des forêts, Malacosoma disstria, à 21 endroits en Alberta, Canada, de 1989 à 1994. Le complexe des parasitoïdes contenait 18 espèces identifiables. Aleiodes malacosomatos (Mason) (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) était répandue dans les populations de faible densité et c’était là la seule espèce qui s’attaquait aux larves de la Livrée avant leur quatrième stade. Leschenaultia exul (Townsend) (Diptera : Tachinidae) était le seul. parasitoïde larvaire chez les populations endémiques et le seul présent après la 2ème année d’épidémie. Bien qu’abondant au début des épidémies, le parasitoïde Patelloa pachypyga (Aldrich and Webber) (Diptera : Tachinidae) le devenait moins plus tard au cours des épidémies, probablement parce que cette espèce termine son développement larvaire plus tard que les autres tachinides et est probablement supplantée par des parasitoïdes des nymphes, plus aggressifs. Je crois que la pont hâtive de L. exul assure son succès au sein des populations de faible densité parce que les chenilles se dispersent avant que P. pachypyga n’ait le temps de commencer à pondre. Le parasitisme des nymphes par Arachnidomyia aldrichi (Parker) (Diptera : Sarcophagidae) s’est avéré moins important en Alberta qu’en d’autres régions, bien qu’il s’agisse là du parasitoïde le plus abondant dans les élevages faits au cours de cette étude. Le parasitisme d’A. aldrichi était plus important dans les cocons récoltés dans la végétation du sol que dans le feuillage des arbres. Les autres parasitoïdes des nymphes ont contribué relativement peu à la mortalité des livrées.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 127 , Issue 6 , December 1995 , pp. 877 - 893
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1995

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