Parasitoid complex associated with the overwintering generation of Swammerdamia pyrella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in Poland

Abstract

The study was conducted on fruit trees where bands of corrugated cardboard were attached around the trunks of the trees, which were used to catch the larvae of overwintering generation of the rufous-tipped swammerdamia moth, Swammerdamia pyrella (Villers) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae). Twenty-five species of parasitic Hymenoptera have been described from S. pyrella in Poland including the report in this article of seven species belonging to the family of Ichneumonidae (three species) and superfamily Chalcidoidea (four species). The parasitoids Gelis agilis F. (Ichneumonidae), Chrysocharis aquilegiae (Erdös) (Eulophidae), Catolaccus ater (Ratzeburg) (Pteromalidae), and Eupelmus urozonus (Dalman) (Eupelmidae) had not been reported from the host before. Triclistus pallipes Holmgren (Ichneumonidae), Dibrachys cavus Walker (Pteromalidae) had the greatest effect on the natural regulation of S. pyrella population. Parasitization for the wintering cocoons of S. pyrella changed each year, but it was high throughout the study. The contribution of secondary parasitoids was much higher than primary parasitoids.