Egg Parasitism by Trichogramma spp. on the Smaller Tea Tortrix, Adoxophyes honmai Yasuda, and the Oriental Tea Tortrix, Homona magnanima Diakonoff

Abstract

We investigated parasitism by the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma spp., on Adoxophyes honmai and Homona magnanima eggs artificially placed on the plucking surface in tea fields. The rate of parasitism of A. honmai eggs had a small peak at early September and a large peak at late October and mid-November, during which the rate of parasitism of A. honmai eggs was about 30%. The rate of parasitism of H. magnanima eggs had a small peak from late September to early October and a large peak from late October to early November, during which the rate of parasitism of H. magnanima eggs was about 60% to 80%. The rate of parasitism of H. magnanima eggs was significantly higher than that of A. honmai eggs during investigation period. These results suggest that Trichogramma spp. has high potential as a biological control agent for H. magnanima.