Discovery of Trichogramma colombiensis Velásquez de Ríos and Terán, 1995, in Uruguay
Descubrimiento de Trichogramma colombiensis Velásquez de Ríos y Terán, 1995, en Uruguay
Grille, G.1; Basso, C.1; Pintureau B.2
]]>1 Facultad de Agronomía, Garzón 780, 12900 Montevideo, Uruguay. Correo electrónico: cbasso@movinet.com.uy
2 BF2I-UMR INRA/INSA de Lyon, INSA bâtiment L. Pasteur, 69621-Villeurbanne-cedex, France
Recibido: 9/11/08 Aceptado: 9/6/09
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Summary
The South American species Trichogramma colombiensis was collected for the first time in Uruguay, more precisely in the Maldonado region. This parasitoid emerged from Noctuidae eggs deposited on Olea europaea trees.
Key words: Egg parasitoid, biological control, biodiversity
Resumen
La especie sudamericana Trichogramma colombiensis fue colectada por primera vez en Uruguay, más precisamente en la región de Maldonado. Este parasitoide emergió de huevos de Noctuidae depositados sobre un árbol de Olea europaea.
]]>Palabras clave: parasitoide de huevos, control biológico, biodiversidad
Trichogramma colombiensis is a poorly known species living in South America. Its description appears only in Velásquez de Ríos and Terán (1995), with drawings of the male genitalia and antenna. However, these drawings have a small size that does not allow a precise determination. The discovery of T. colombiensis in Uruguay is an opportunity to clarify this description.
Male antenna. Flagellum length / flagellum width = 3.6 to 4.6 (mean= 3.98 ± 0.14, n=7); length of the longest flagelliform seta / flagellum width = 1.9 to 2.4 (mean= 2.13 ± 0.07, n=7) (Figures 1 and 2).
Male genitalia. Dorsal lamina (DLA) narrow at base and slightly notched; slight distance between the DLA tip and the parameres tips; DLA tip slightly exceeding volsella (VS) tips; intervolsellar process (IVP) thick and long, its tip reaching the VS tips (Figures 1 and 2).
This description is in agreement with the one provided by Velásquez de Ríos & Terán (1995), with some minor exceptions: flagellum slightly longer (flagellum length / flagellum width = 4.6), setae slightly shorter (length of the longest flagelliform seta / flagellum width = 1.6), DLA with no notch, IVP tip almost reaching the VS tips.
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Intra-genus classification
The species T. colombiensis belongs to the sub-genus Trichogramma. Inside this phylum, it is classified into the species group minutum (Pintureau, 2008) or the exiguum section (Pinto, 1998).
Geographic distribution
The species is present in some South American countries: Argentina (Botto et al., 2002); Colombia (Buga: Velásquez de Ríos y Terán, 1995); Venezuela (Barquisimeto, Lara state: Velásquez de Ríos y Terán, 1995); Uruguay (Maldonado: present paper).
Hosts
]]> Only three host species (eggs) were recorded: Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Noctuidae) on Zea mays; Erinnyis ello (L.) (Sphingidae) on Manihot esculenta (Velásquez de Ríos y Terán, 1995); undetermined Noctuidae on Olea europaea (present paper).
Discussion
The known distribution of T. colombiensis in the northern part and the southern part of South America is surprising. So, it is foreseeable that the species will be discovered during the future years in intermediate countries as Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. Many studies have to be performed on this egg parasitoid, notably to determine its biological characteristics and preferred hosts, before its possible utilization in biological control programs.
Acknowledgements
Silvina Tochetti collected the studied Uruguayan individuals of T. colombiensis, and Patrice Bolland took and prepared the photos.
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References
Botto, E.N.; Segade, G.; Horny, C.M.; Riquelme, M.B.; Tezze, A.A.; Klasmer, P. and Villacide, J.M. 2002. An outlook on the use of Trichogramma spp. in Argentina. Egg Parasitoid News 14: 35.
Pinto, J.D. 1998. Systematics of the North American species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Washington 22: 1-287.
Pintureau, B. 2008. Les espèces européennes de Trichogrammes. ILV-Edition, Cergy-Pontoise (France), 97 p.
Velásquez de Ríos, M. and Terán, J. 1995. Description of the species of the Trichogramma genus (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) in Venezuela. Les Colloques 73: 41-46.
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