Parasitoid complex of legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on different pulses

Abstract

The spotted or bean pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius is an important pest of major pulses and vegetable legumes in India and are mostly managed by chemical pesticides. Exploring other alternative management tools, here, we carried out on the availability of parasitoids and its genetic variation to control this major pest. Totally, four larval parasitoids viz., Bassus sp., Trathala flavoorbitalis Cameron, Phanerotoma hendecasisella Cameron and an undetermined Braconid wasp were recorded on M. vitrata larva. The occurrence of P. hendecasisella was reported for the first time from Tamil Nadu, India. The Bassus sp. was found to be dominant with the parasitism of 3.0 to 12.7% in different pulses and total parasitism of four parasitoids was maximum in pigeonpea (16.1%). Total parasitism had a positive relationship with number of webbings on cowpea. The larval parasitoids Bassus sp. and braconid wasp (undetermined) yielded specific fragments (~800 bp) with mitochondrial COI primer. Presence of Wolbachia was confirmed in all four larval parasitoids with the amplicons size between 600 and 650 bp. The results clearly indicate the close proximity of Bassus sp. on M. vitrata than other parasitoids studied, and suggestfor further insights on suitability, mass culturing and development for sustainable management of this insect pest.