Biological Control of Penicillaria jocosatrix (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Mango on Guam with Notes on the Biology of Its Parasitoids

Penicillaria jocosatrix Guenée consumes new leaves, flowers, and fruits of mango and has been a serious pest on Guam. Before 1986, few natural enemies were present and there were no parasitoids attacking the larvae. In 1986, a program was initiated to introduce larval parasitoids. The wasps Aleiodes sp. and Euplectrus sp. and the fly Blepharella lateralis Macquart were released. Aleiodes sp. did not establish, but Euplectrus sp. and B. lateralis did. Populations of the mango shoot caterpillar fell to 25% of their prerelease levels. Parasitization rates ranged from 20 to 99%. Euplectrus sp. was the most abundant parasitoid. It parasitized all instars, but was more common on second and third instars. More eggs were laid on older instars of the caterpillar. Euplectrus sp. was more abundant in the dry season whereas B. lateralis was more common in the wet season. Fruit production on monitored trees increased significantly after the parasitoids became effective.