Field efficacy of the pupal parasitoid Chouioia cunea Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and selected insecticides for management of Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in hazelnut orchards

Abstract

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a destructive polyphagous pest that poses a serious threat to hazelnut production worldwide. Effective management strategies are critical for minimizing its economic impact. This study aimed to evaluate the field efficacy of the pupal parasitoid Chouioia cunea Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and three insecticides ‒Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, azadirachtin, and diflubenzuron‒ applied in hazelnut orchards in Düzce province of Türkiye, between 2020 and 2021. To evaluate their distinct life-stage efficacies, larval mortality was assessed using a randomized complete block design following insecticide treatments targeting early instars, and pupal parasitism was assessed using a randomized plots design across two generations following parasitoid releases. Releases of C. cunea significantly increased pupal parasitism rates, reaching 86.06% in 2020 and 94.95% in 2021, compared to those in the untreated control plots. All insecticide treatments significantly suppressed larval populations, with B. thuringiensis and diflubenzuron consistently achieving higher efficacy than azadirachtin. In 2020, these two insecticides achieved efficacy levels exceeding 77%, while azadirachtin remained below 68%. In 2021, all insecticides showed improved performance, surpassing 90%, although azadirachtin remained slightly less effective. These findings support the potential of utilizing both biological control agents and selective insecticides as complementary tools within a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy for managing H. cunea in hazelnut orchards.

Keywords

• Azadirachtin
• Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki
• diflubenzuron
• fall webworm
• inundative release

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye TUBITAK, Türkiye, Grant Project No: 118O529

Project Number

TÜBİTAK, Proje No: 118O529

Thanks

The authors extend their gratitude to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) Project No: 118O529) for funding this research.

Fındık bahçelerinde Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) ile mücadelede pupa parazitoidi Chouioia cunea Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) ve bazı insektisitlerin etkinliği

Abstract

Amerikan beyazkelebeği, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), dünya genelinde fındık üretimi için ciddi bir tehdit oluşturan tahripkâr ve polifag bir zararlıdır. Bu zararlının ekonomik zararını en aza indirmek için etkili mücadele stratejileri büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma; pupa parazitoidi Chouioia cunea Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) ile üç farklı insektisitin (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, azadiraktin ve diflubenzuron) Düzce ilindeki fındık bahçelerinde, iki yıl boyunca arazi etkinliğini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Uygulamaların, zararlının farklı yaşam dönemlerine olan etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla, erken dönem larvaları hedefleyen insektisit uygulamalarının ardından larva ölümleri tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre, parazitoid salımlarının ardından ise pupa parazitlenmesi iki döl boyunca tesadüf parselleri deneme desenine göre değerlendirilmiştir. C. cunea salımları, kontrol parsellerine kıyasla pupa parazitlenme oranlarını önemli ölçüde artırarak 2020 yılında %86,06’ya, 2021 yılında ise %94,95’e ulaştırmıştır. Tüm insektisit uygulamaları larva popülasyonlarını önemli ölçüde baskı altına almış; B. thuringiensis ve diflubenzuron, azadiraktine göre tutarlı bir şekilde daha yüksek etkinlik göstermiştir. 2020 yılında bu iki insektisit %77’yi aşan etkinlik seviyelerine ulaşırken, azadiraktin %68’in altında kalmıştır. 2021 yılında tüm insektisitlerin etkinlik oranlarında bir artış gözlenerek %90’lara ulaşmış olup, buna karşılık azadiraktin, diğer uygulamalara kıyasla nispeten daha düşük bir etkinlik sergilemiştir. Bu bulgular, fındık bahçelerinde H. cunea ile mücadelede sürdürülebilir ve çevre dostu bir strateji kapsamında hem biyolojik mücadele etmenlerinin hem de bazı seçilmiş insektisitlerin birbirini tamamlayıcı bileşenler olarak kullanılma potansiyelini desteklemektedir.

Keywords

• Azadiraktin
• Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki
• diflubenzuron
• Amerikan beyazkelebeği
• kitlesel salım

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye TUBITAK, Türkiye, Grant Project No: 118O529

Project Number

TÜBİTAK, Proje No: 118O529

Thanks

The authors extend their gratitude to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) Project No: 118O529) for funding this research.

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