Flight capacity, parasitism and emergence of five Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species from forest areas in Brazil

The flight and parasitism capacities and emergence rate of five Dichogramma species [T acacioi (Brun), T bruni (Nagaraja), T demoraesi (Nagaraja), T maxacalii (Voegele & Pointel) and T soaresi (Nagaraja)] were compared. The flight capacity of these parasitoids was assessed in test units. A tube was placed inside each test unit with a piece of card with 300 Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs parasitized by one of the Trichogramma species. The emerged adults inside the test units were classified according to their position as flyers, non-flyers and walkers. Cards with A. kuehniella eggs, parasitized by one of the Trichogramma species, were assessed to determine the parasitism rate and emergence of these natural enemies. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. Trichogramma maxacalii exhibited better flight capacity than the other species, in addition to good parasitism rate and high percentage of emergence.