The Sunflower Moth and Some of Its Natural Enemies

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
At the request of sunflower growers in Cuba, through its Agric. Expt. Station, a study was undertaken at the Webster Groves, Missouri, laboratory of the Bureau of Ent. and Plant Quarantine, to find a parasite of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum, suitable for introduction into the sunflower fields of Cuba. This study involved a survey of the distribution of the moth and its host plants in the U. S., and of its life history and habits. The search for parasites was made in Missouri, Illinois, and Louisiana. The single predator, Hydnocera pubescens, and the following 12 insect parasites were reared: Lixophaga variabilis, Anachaetopsis tortricis, Leskiomima tenera, Sipho-phyto floridensis, Microbracon mellitor, Microbracon nuperus, Chelonus altitudinus, Apanteles homoeosomae, Bassus but-tricki, Macrocentrus ancylivorus, Angitia n. sp., and Cre-ntastus epagoges. Angitia n. sp. was reared in numbers, and 44 cocoons were sent to Cuba in Oct., 1933; 28 [male] [male] issued. Examination of the dead forms showed that all were [male][male]. Metarrhizium anisopliae, an entomogenous fungus, was also found affecting the sunflower moth larvae collected at New Madrid, Missouri.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: