PARASITOIDS OF FOUR INVASIVE SPECIES OF LEAF MINERS (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE) IN BRATISLAVA

Abstract

The parasitoid complexes of four invasive species of leaf miners ( Phyllonorycter issikii , Ph. platani , Ph. robiniella, Parectopa robiniella ) in Bratislava were studied. The work was carried out in the period of 2011-2013 in the gardens and parks of the city. Each type of miners has been studied in four test areas. Every year mined leaves were collected in each plot on the 20 of May, June, July and August. In total, over 50 mines were cut out and placed into Petri dishes. Emergence of adult moths and parasitoids was registered daily in field laboratory conditions. Our study revealed 30 species of parasitoids of four species invasive of leaf miners, 23 of them belonging to the family Eulophidae (three subfamilies: Eulophidae, Entedoninae, and Tetrastichinae), 3 species - to Ichneumonidae and 4 species - to Braconidae. Complex of parasitoids of lime leafminer Ph. issikii was most diverse. 23 parasitoids identified to the species level. One of representative of the complex is defined as Entedon sp. (Eulophidae). 7 species are reported for the first time as parasites of Ph. issikii : Diglyphus pusztensis , Pnigalio longulus , Eudelus simillimus , Baryscapus nigroviolaceus, Colastes braconius , Pholetesor circumscriptus and Pholetesor exiguous . The most significant were the species Minotetrastichus frontalis , Pediobius saulius and Sympiesis sericeicornis . 17 parasitoid species of plane leaf miner Ph. platani were recorded. The assemblage also includes unidentified species in the following genera: Achrysocharoides sp. (Eulophidae) and Mesochorus sp. (Ichneumonidae). The species of Pnigalio soemius was reported for the first time as parasitoid of Ph. platani . P. saulius , M. frontalis and Minotetrastichus platanellus were dominant parasitoids. 13 species of parasitoid of leaf miner Ph. robiniella were recorded. Cirrospilus lyncus , Chrysocharis nephereus and M. frontalis were dominant parasitoids. 7 species of parasitoids of leaf miner Parectopa robiniella were recorded. The most significant were the species M. frontalis , S. sericeicornis and P. saulius.