The parasitoid communities associated with Ceutorhynchus species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Ontario and Québec, Canada*. Issue 2 (13th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mason, P.G.; Miall, J.H.; Bouchard, P.; Brauner, A.; Gillespie, D.R.; Gibson, G.A.P.
• Is Part Of: Canadian entomologist. Volume 146:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 224
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2014-02-13
• Subjects: Entomology -- Periodicals; Insects -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.4039/tce.2013.65
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-347X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Surveys were conducted in Ontario and Québec, Canada to determine the parasitoid communities associated with <italic>Ceutorhynchus</italic> Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) weevil species that are potential nontarget hosts of candidate biological control agents of the cabbage seedpod weevil, <italic>Ceutorhynchus obstrictus</italic> (Marsham). New host plant associations are documented for <italic>Ceutorhynchus americanus</italic> Buchanan, <italic>Ceutorhynchus neglectus</italic> Blatchley, and <italic>Ceutorhynchus omissus</italic> Fall. More than 18 species of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) were associated with six <italic>Ceutorhynchus</italic> species reared from siliques and stems of Brassicaceae plants. Silique-feeding <italic>Ceutorhynchus</italic> species supported a more diverse parasitoid community than stem-feeding or root crown-feeding species. The major components of the parasitoid assemblage of the native <italic>C. neglectus</italic> included <italic>Mesopolobus gemellus</italic> Baur and Muller, <italic>Mesopolobus moryoides</italic> Gibson, <italic>Trichomalus lucidus</italic> (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and a cryptic species complex previously reported as <italic>Necremnus tidius</italic> (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). These species, plus <italic>Trimeromicrus maculatus</italic> Gahan (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were the main parasitoids attacking the native <italic>C. omissus</italic>. The major parasitoids associated with the accidently introduced <italic>Ceutorhynchus erysimi</italic> (Fabricius) and <italic>Ceutorhynchus typhae</italic> (Herbst) included <italic>T. maculatus</italic>, the <italic>N. tidius</italic> species complex, <italic>M. gemellus</italic>, and <italic>M. moryoides</italic>. <italic>Trichomalus perfectus</italic> (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a major parasitoid of <italic>C. obstrictus</italic> in Europe, is an accidental introduction first reared in Canada from that host in 2009 and first collected from <italic>C. omissus</italic> in 2011. <italic>Mesopolobus gemellus</italic> is shown to have a broad host range. These findings highlight the need for a cautious approach before introducing new biological control agents.</p> </abstract>