The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has been introduced into new geographic areas, including the Mediterranean region, where i

Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is currently used as biological control agent for several lepidopteran pests. Knowledge of thermal requirements is essential to optimize its rearing procedures and inundative releases. The biological characteristics and two-sex life table parameters of T. achaeae were determined at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. T. achaeae was able to develop and survive from 15 °C to 30 °C, but not at 35 °C. Temperature significantly affected the preadult development time and adult longevity, decreasing when temperature increased from 15 °C to 30 °C. Temperature significantly altered the sex ratio, being female biased between 15 °C and 25 °C. Age-stage, two-sex life table analysis indicated that net reproductive rate (R₀) was highest at 20 °C. Both the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) increased with increasing temperature, while the mean generation time (T) decreased significantly. In addition, functional response of T. achaeae was studied, being significantly affected by temperature and host egg density, displaying a Holling type-I at 15 °C and a Holling type-II at 25 °C. The relevance of these results is discussed for the use of T. achaeae as biological control agent.

Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is the main pest of mango, Mangifera indica L., in Spain, causing significant economic losses by aesthetic damage that reduce the commercial value of fruit. Bagging fruit with two commercial bags (a yellow satin paper and a white muslin cloth bag) was evaluated for control of A. tubercularis in two organic mango orchards during the 2020 cropping season in pursuit of the development of a mango IPM program to produce pest-free and residue-free fruits. Results from fruit damage evaluations at harvest showed that bagging significantly reduced pest incidence and fruit damage compared with non-bagged plots. Of the two bags evaluated, white muslin cloth bag provided higher levels of fruit protection from A. tubercularis damage, reducing the non-commercial fruit percentage by up to 93.42%. Fruit quality assessment indicated that weight and size of bagged fruit were significantly higher than the non-bagged. Paper-bagged mangoes showed higher whiteness and yellowness compared to the other treatments. Soluble solids content (ºBrix) was higher in paper-bagged fruit than all other treatment plots. The results from this study indicate that pre-harvest fruit bagging is effective at controlling A. tubercularis and should be integrated into an IPM program for Spanish mango production.

A new species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitizing eggs of the golden twin-spot moth (or tomato looper) Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on banana crops in the Canary Islands, Spain, is described as Trichogramma canariensis del Pino & Polaszek, sp.n. The new species is closely related to T. brassicae Bezdenko. Limited aspects of morphology, coupled with ITS2 and COI sequences and reproductive data are presented to distinguish T. canariensis sp.n. from T. brassicae.