Dispersal ability and parasitisation performance of Trichogramma spp (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae) in organic...

The dispersal/host searching capacity of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead was studied in organic Basmati rice during 2012 and 2013. Results showed that the level of parasitism was negatively correlated with the distance between host eggs and parasitoids' release point. Parasitisation rate was more (11.39-18.10% and 9.77-15.49% by T. chilonis and T. japonicum, respectively) near the release point (1-3m) with maximum parasitism at 1m by both the parasitoid species. A very low parasitism (0.05-0.47%) was recorded up to the distance of 8-9 m in two species. Among the two parasitoid species, T. chilonis showed higher parasitism (up to 18.10%) in different distance treatments in comparison to T. japonicum (up to 15.49%).