Influence of Parasitic Hymenoptera on the Regulation of Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella , 1 on Cotton in the Lower Colorado Desert 2

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Abstract
Efforts to permanently establish 14 imported parasitic Hymenoptera on the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), in the lower Colorado Desert of California and Arizona during 1969–78, failed even though field reproduction of 8 species was recorded. Inundative releases of parasites produced varying levels of P. gossypiella reduction, the best performance being attained with egg-larval parasites, Chelonus spp. (Braconidae). A Chelonus sp. nr. curvimaculatus Cameron obtained from the presumed native range of pink bollworm in northwestern Australia was most effective, giving an adjusted 69.6% infested boll reduction by August 24 at the equivalent release rate of 2667 ♀/ha. There were no differences in parasitization and host reduction between weekly and biweekly parasite release rates nor on Delta Pine and nectariless Stoneville 731-N cotton varieties for Chelonus spp.