Exploitation of Eggs of the Colorado Potato Beetle, \u3ci\u3eLeptinotarsa Decemlineata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), by the Exotic Egg Parasitoid \u3ci\u3eEdovum Puttleri\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Eggplant

Abstract

Edovum puttleri is a newly discovered, exotic, egg parasitoid of the Colorado potato beetle, (CPB) Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The exploitation of CPB eggs by E. puttleri was examined in a New Jersey eggplant field. E. puttleri parasitized 46.8% of the CPB eggs present in the field. Exploitation of eggs within eggmasses was high; 73.9% of CPB eggs in eggmasses attacked by E. puttleri were parasitized