Rhyacionia Egg Parasitism by Trichogramma minutum Riley

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Abstract
During a study of egg laying and larval habits of Rhyacionia spp. on loblolly pine shoots, Pinus taeda L., 64.5% of the eggs were found parasitized by a minute chalcid, Trichogramma minutum Riley. Parasites emerged from 77.5% of these parasitized eggs. About ½ of the Rhyacionia eggs were parasitized hortly after egg laying. The remaining eggs were present on the pine shoots from 4 to 22 days before parasitism by Trichogramma. This high percentage of egg parasitism of an insect which neilher produces a high egg density nor lays eggs in clusters is particularly significant. Each Rhyacionia egg apparently provides nourishment for the development of only I parasite because observed multiparasitism by T. minutum resulted in death of all parasite progeny. It is speculated that an abundance of overwintering parasite host eggs, along with favorable weather conditions, contributed to a high T. minutum population in this pine plantation. Observations show that T. minutum may be of considerable value in the reduction of Rhyacionia populations and subsequent damage to pines.

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