Hyperparasitism of beneficial parasites of Pieris rapae was studied on Brassica crops in Montgomery County, Virginia. The goal of the study was to determine whether the hyperparasites attacking the larval parasites of P. rapae were capable of eliminating an introduced population of the larval parasite Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Pieris rapae was found to be active from April to November with possibly six generations per year in this region. It was attacked throughout this period by five generations of the larval parasite Cotesia glomerata (L.) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Although P. rapae larvae were twice as numerous on broccoli (var. Premium Crop) than on cabbage (var. Rio Verde), a higher proportion of P. rapae larvae was parasitized by C. glomerata on cabbage, indicating that C. glomerata preferred to forage for P. rapae in cabbage. In spring plantings, up to 36.9% of C. glomerata cocoon masses had been affected by the hyperparasite T. galaetopus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: (Eulophidae) and 23.3% by the hyperparasite Spiloehaleis torvina Cresson (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). In the fall, 93.2% and 4.2% of the cocoon masses were affected by T. galaetopus and S. torvina, respectively. Tetrastiehus galaetopus activity was observed from May to November, but it was most active after mid July. Tetrastiehus ga/aetopus had little impact on the gregarious C. glomerata, and even though it could affect >90% of the C. glomerata cocoon masses for extended periods, 500/0 of the cocoons in each mass were unaffected. However, it's high reproductive capacity could adversely affect a solitary host such as C. rubecula. Spilochalcis torvina was observed as early as late May but it was most active during the mid summer months. It's reproductive activity ceased by early October even though hosts were abundant in the month which followed. Four generations were seen between June and October. Spilochalcis torvina's hosts were Cotesia orobenae Forbes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), C. glomerata, and Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), but the principal host was C. glomerata. However, the proportion of female S. torvina progenies was <31% from the Cotesia spp. hosts and 70% from P. xylostella hosts. Spilochalcis torvina typically hyperparasitized <4 pupae per Cotesia spp. cocoon mass in the field. In laboratory experiments, S. torvina hyperparasitized an average of <7 C. rubecula pupae daily, and the maximum number hyperparasitized was 12. Due to its apparently low reproductive rate in the laboratory, and its low rate of hyperparasitization on hosts in the field, it is unlikely that S. torvina is a danger to populations of parasites like C. rubecula. / Master of Science

Conura torvina (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) is a solitary pupal endoparasite of numerous insect species. In Brassica crops it acts as a parasite of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and was found as a hyperparasite of Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and several other parasitoid species. Cotesia rubecula was introduced into Virginia in 1987 as a biological control agent for Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and because C. torvina was thought to have eliminated this population of C. rubecula, studies of C. torvina's reproductive biology and behavior were initiated. A study using plants laden with "trap hosts" to detect C. torvina activity in the spring indicated no activity until late June, but proved trap host sampling to be an efficient and effective method of monitoring C. torvina activity. Studies of C. torvina's ability to reproduce in C. rubecula pupae of different ages indicated that C. torvina can successfully parasitize pupae at all stages of development, but was most successful in young to middle aged pupae. Studies of C. torvina's host species preference indicated the larger host species such as P. xylostella were preferred. Equal numbers of P. xylostella and C. rubecula were parasitized, but a greater proportion of fertile eggs were laid in P. xylostella. Smaller host species were often ignored. Host dissection studies indicated that caged C. torvina were inefficient at host finding and oviposition. Superparasitism was common, but declined as the females gained oviposition experience. Experienced C. torvina produced an average of 8.25 progenies per day for a period of 12 days when provided with 13 P. xylostella hosts each day. Conura torvina produced up to 14 progenies a day when provided 3 26 hosts. Dissection of C. torvina ovaries indicated three ovarioles per ovary with a mean of 9.2 and maximum of 15 mature eggs per female. Host dissection indicated that a mean of 18 and maximum of 30 eggs could be laid per day. New eggs were produced as oviposition occurred. Significantly larger eggs were laid in P. xylostella than in C. rubecula, and significantly more eggs were laid in C. rubecula than in P. xylostella. From these data and data from earlier studies I concluded that C. torvina has a poor reproductive ability and its impact as a hyperparasite is limited to the summer months. This makes C. torvina an unlikely cause of C. rubecula's disappearance. / Ph. D.

No description available.