Occurrence of Goniozus legneri (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and its association to lepidopteran pests in Northern cultivated oasis of Mendoza province, Argentina

Abstract

Goniozus legneri Gordh (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is a larval ectoparasitoid of lepidopterans, with a worldwide history as a biocontrol agent of various agricultural pests. By means of extensive monitoring, this wasp was found in four distant districts of Mendoza province parasitizing three lepidopteran pests: Lobesia botrana (Den. et Shiff.) in grapevine, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) in walnut and “espinillo” (Vachellia caven (Molina) Seigler et Ebinger) and Cydia pomonella (L.) in walnut. To corroborate the parasitoid species identification and to analyze its population viability in this region, studies of male genitalia and sexual crossings between wild and laboratory-reared wasps were conducted. Further, we report for the first time the natural host-parasitoid interaction of L. botrana with this parasitoid in vineyards from Argentina.