Field Parasitisation of the Eggs of Acomthomia tomentosicollis Stol (Hemiptera: Coreidae) at Ibadan , Nigeria
DOI.10.36108/NJE/9791/30.0240
EGWUATU, R. I. and TAYLOR, AJIBOLA, T
Abstract: Gryon gnidus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was found to be the major egg parasite of Acanthomia tomentosicollis Stol, parasitising an average of 38%of the egg batches over a period of one year. Weekly levels of parasitisation ranged from 0 – 76~ but this did not prevent the host from reaching population levels that can cause economic damage. The factors responsible for the latter are discussed. Two other minor egg parasites, Anastatus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and Ooencyrtus sp, (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are also reported. The incidence of parasitisation by the two were, however, low ranging from 0.04% to 0.1%.