FIRST RECORDS OF TWO PARASITOIDS OF Episparis tortuosalis, A SERIOUS PEST OF Chukrasia tabularis IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss is a valuable tree species that contributes to the economic significance of Vietnam where it is grown to produce furniture, doors, window frames, veneers, and decorative panels. However, C. tabularis plantations in the country are frequently attacked by the leaf defoliator Episparis tortuosalis. This study was desinged to illustrate morphological characteristics of Ganaspis wasps and Megaselia flies, which were found to be natural parasitoids of E. tortuosalis in C. tabularis plantations. Our field surveys revealed that the percentage of E. tortuosalis larvae and pupae parasitized by Ganaspis sp. was significantly lower than by Megaselia sp. and the parasitism rate of Ganaspis sp. varied significantly between Hoa Binh and Nghe An provinces meanwhile the parasitism rate of Megaselia sp. did not differ between these two study sites. These findings suggest that Ganaspis sp. and Megaselia sp. would be the potential biological control agents for effective and sustainable management of E. tortuosalis in the future.