Telenomus

Haliday, 1833

Species Guides

3

Telenomus is a of minute egg parasitoid wasps in the Telenominae, Scelionidae. First described by Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833, in this genus develop as within the of other insects, primarily targeting Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Several species, notably T. remus and T. podisi, are important agents used in programs against agricultural pests including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and stink bugs (Euschistus spp.). The genus exhibits a distribution with particular significance in tropical and subtropical agricultural systems.

T. podisi parasiting P maculiventris egg by Eirefred. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Telenomus: /tɛ.lɛˈno.mus/

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Habitat

Agricultural and natural where insect occur; associated with crops including maize, soybean, sugarcane, and cotton. Laboratory rearing typically conducted at 25–27°C with 65–70% relative humidity and 12–16 hour .

Distribution

distribution including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Documented occurrences include Brazil (extensive use on 100,000–200,000 hectares of soybean), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), Asia (Nepal, China), and North America. Native to the Americas; introduced to other regions for purposes.

Seasonality

Activity synchronized with availability; multiple per year possible under favorable conditions. Generation time approximately 10 days at 25°C for T. remus, with temperature range of 15–31°C. T. podisi requires approximately 15 days from egg to at 25°C.

Diet

feed on honey or other sources. Larvae develop as endoparasitoids within , consuming egg contents.

Host Associations

Life Cycle

-to- development occurs within eggs. time varies by and temperature: approximately 10 days at 25°C for T. remus, 15 days at 25°C for T. podisi. Temperature range 15–31°C for T. remus. Sex ratio typically female-biased. Adults emerge from parasitized host eggs.

Behavior

Females locate using volatile ; T. remus exhibits stronger olfactory preference for Spodoptera frugiperda eggs over related . T. remus can overcome protective villi covering S. frugiperda egg masses, achieving greater than 90% even of innermost eggs. Host selection mediated by specific compounds: attracted to trans-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane and 2-heptadecanone, repelled by 2-hexanol. provided with honey solution in laboratory rearing.

Ecological Role

Important agent of lepidopteran and hemipteran agricultural pests. Acts as natural enemy that kills pest before larval , preventing crop damage. Reduces need for chemical in systems. Potential for integration with fungi without reduction in or survival.

Human Relevance

Widely used in programs. T. remus mass-reared on alternative Corcyra cephalonica (rice ) at approximately half the cost of rearing on natural host, enabling economical large- production. Applied on approximately 100,000–200,000 hectares in Brazil. Mass release rates of at least 18,000 individuals per hectare recommended for effective control. Subject of technology transfer programs between Africa, Asia, and the Americas for fall armyworm management.

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