Cooperative Establishment of a Virginia (USA) Strain of Telenomus alsophilae on Oxydia trychiata in Colombia12

An egg parasite, Telenomus alsophilae Viereck, from the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harris), in Virginia was established on Oxydia trychiata (Guenée) in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia. A. pometaria is a general defoliator of broadleaved forests in eastern North America, while O. trychiata defoliates the introduced conifers Pinus patula Schiede & Deppe and Cupressus lusitanica Miller in Colombia; O. trychiata also has been reared on several species of broadleaved trees. Within a year, the introduced parasite eliminated O. trychiata in the plantation where it was released. This is the 1st successful application of a biological control agent against a forest insect in Colombia. The behavior of T. alsophilae on eggs of O. trychiata is described, and its life cycle under several environmental conditions and the relationships between host age and successful parasitism are reported. We recommend a program of intensive taxonomic and biological research on the genus Telenomus, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. It has the potential for widespread use in biological control.