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Natural biological control by parasitoids of the serpentine leafminer Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on green onion (Allium fistulosum L.).

Abstract:

Infestations by Liriomyza trifolii on green onion are notorious under frequent insecticide applications in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela, although parasitism by Hymenoptera was observed. To assess their importance as biological control agents, population fluctuation studies were conducted on insecticide free plots complemented with plots with plants covered with organdy, plants sprayed with monocrotophos and a control plot without any treatment, as well as quantification of parasitoid species reared from infested plants from the zone. The study showed low percentages of mined leaves and number of mines/infested leaf, with high percentage of parasitism. The non treated control plot showed similar results, contrasting with the other treatments. Neochrysocharis formosa was the most abundant parasitoid (57.4 %). The results show the importance of parasitoids in regulating L. trifolii.