Estimating Parasitism of Colorado Potato Beetle Eggs, Leptinotarsa Decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), by Edovum Puttleri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Authors

E. Groden, University of Maine
F. A. Drummond, University of Maine
R. A. Casagrande, University of Rhode Island
J. H. Lashomb, Rutgers University

Document Type

Peer-Review Article

Abstract

A computer simulation was used to evaluate methods for estimating parasitism of Colorado potato beetle egg mass populations by Edovum puttleri. The algorithm incorporated the specific attack behavior of E. puttleri, and a development time for parasitized egg masses of ca. 2.9 times that of healthy egg masses. Of the methods compared, a modification of Southwood's graphical technique was found to be most accurate in relation to the true parasitism derived from the algorithm. A regression equation is presented to correct the error in this method at high levels of parasitism. A second simulation was used to test the accuracy of this correcter where in a jacknife procedure was used to generate a mean and variance for estimates of parasitism.

Recommended Citation

Groden, E.; Drummond, F. A.; Casagrande, R. A.; and Lashomb, J. H. 1989. "Estimating Parasitism of Colorado Potato Beetle Eggs, Leptinotarsa Decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), by Edovum Puttleri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 22 (1)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.1665
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol22/iss1/8