One parasitic dipterous species and 27 parasitic hymenopterous species were collected. Parasites were primarily collected by mass-rearing host larvae on cut host plant foliage in the laboratory or by rearing larvae on artificial diet. The tachinid Nemorilla pyste (Walk.) and five hymenopterous species, Glypta n. sp. (Ichneumonidae), Campoplex sp. (Ichneumonidae), Agathis acrobasidis (Cushman) (Braconidae), Elasmus atratus How. (Eulophidae), and Catolaccus aeneoviridis Girault (Pteromalidae), were definite parasites, and biological notes are given. Collection data are also given for the other 22 species.
One reduviid predator, Zelus socius Uhler, and six spiders were observed feeding on C. houstonana

Heinrichs, E. A.

Thompson, Hugh E.

English

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Faculty Publications: Department of 
Entomology Entomology, Department of 
1-1968 
Parasites, Predators, and Other Arthropods Associated with 
Choristoneura houstonana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on 
Juniperus Species in Kansas 
E. A. Heinrichs 
Hugh E. Thompson 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyfacpub 
 Part of the Entomology Commons, and the Forest Sciences Commons 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology, Department of at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications: 
Department of Entomology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
 
 
 
Published in The Canadian Entomologist 100:1 (January 1968), pp. 33–39; doi: 10.4039/Ent10033-1 
Copyright © 1968 Entomological Society of Canada; published by Cambridge University Press. Used 
by permission. 
Submitted August 15, 1967; published online May 31, 2012. 
 
 
Parasites, Predators, and Other Arthropods 
Associated with Choristoneura houstonana 
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Juniperus Species 
in Kansas1 
 
 
E. A. Heinrichs and Hugh E. Thompson 
 
Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 
 
Abstract 
One parasitic dipterous species and 27 parasitic hymenopterous species were collected. Parasites 
were primarily collected by mass-rearing host larvae on cut host plant foliage in the laboratory or by 
rearing larvae on artificial diet. The tachinid Nemorilla pyste (Walk.) and five hymenopterous species, 
Glypta n. sp. (Ichneumonidae), Campoplex sp. (Ichneumonidae), Agathis acrobasidis (Cushman) (Braco-
nidae), Elasmus atratus How. (Eulophidae), and Catolaccus aeneoviridis Girault (Pteromalidae), were 
definite parasites, and biological notes are given. Collection data are also given for the other 22 species. 
One reduviid predator, Zelus socius Uhler, and six spiders were observed feeding on C. houstonana. 
 
Introduction 
 
While the biology of Choristoneura houstonana (Grote), a pest of juniper in windbreak and 
ornamental plantings in western Kansas, was being studied, a number of parasites, pred-
ators, and associated arthropods were collected. Some were definite parasites and preda-
tors, while the relationship between C. houstonana and the others, termed “associates,” was 
not determined. 
Powell (1962) listed four parasites of C. houstonana in California: one eulophid, 
Tetrastichus coerulescens Ashm., and three ichneumonids, Glypta sp., Campoplex sp. nr. hya-
linus (Prov.), and Pristomerus sp. 
  
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
2 
Materials and Methods 
 
Foliage infested with larvae and pupae of C. houstonana was collected periodically in the 
summer of 1965 and placed in a screen wire cage, and parasites were collected when they 
emerged. More intensive parasite collecting began in March 1966. Overwintering larvae 
were collected, removed from hibernacula within mined juniper leaves, and reared on ar-
tificial diet in plastic jelly cups.2 When parasitic larvae were observed, notes on their biol-
ogy were taken daily. Foliage infested with late instar larvae and eggs was collected in 
May, June, July, and August, 1966, and placed in 20-gal garbage cans or cardboard boxes 
with a glass jar attached near the top, into which newly emerged parasites were attracted 
by light. 
In July 1966, parasites hovering over juniper trees heavily infested with C. houstonana 
pupae were collected with an insect net. 
Parasites were identified by specialists of the Insect Identification and Parasite Intro-
duction Research Division, Entomology Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ichneumonidae were identified by L. M. Walkley; Chal-
cidoidea by B. D. Burks; Scelionidae, Braconidae, and Platygasteridae by P. M. Marsh; and 
Tachinidae by C. W. Sabrosky. 
Insect predators feeding on C. houstonana larvae on foliage in the laboratory were col-
lected. The Reduviidae were identified by R. C. Froeschner of the Smithsonian Institution. 
Spiders were collected from infested foliage brought to the laboratory for C. houstonana 
and parasite rearing or were shaken into a white cloth placed around the base of an infested 
tree and placed in ethanol. They were identified by Harriet Exline of Rolla, Mo. 
 
Results 
 
One dipterous and 27 hymenopterous parasite species were collected. Six were observed 
parasitizing C. houstonana. One insect and 22 spider predators were collected. The insect 
and six species of spiders were seen preying upon C. houstonana. 
 
Parasites 
 
Diptera, Tachinidae 
Nemorilla pyste (Walk.): 1,000+ males and females ex mass rearing material, and larvae 
reared on artificial diet, collected in Smith, Phillips, Rooks, Pawnee, Barton, and Pratt coun-
ties, 3 June–7 July 1966; emerged June–August 1966. As many as eight white, macrotype 
eggs were deposited on one larva. Host larvae with one to eight eggs each were reared in 
the laboratory to determine how many adults would emerge per host larva. Two adults 
emerging from one larva was the only instance of more than a single parasite per host. 
Parasite eggs were deposited mostly on late instar larvae, present in early June. Eggs were 
first observed in Pawnee County in 1966 on 3 June when 3.85% of the larvae were infested. 
On 8 June, 22.8% were infested and by 16 June, 54% of the larvae had parasite eggs. 
Eggs were deposited mostly on the head (12.6%), prothorax (42.4%), and mesothorax 
(33.6%) (Table I). Eggs were laid on the ventral, lateral, and dorsal areas in approximately 
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
3 
equal numbers. Eggs were attached to the larval cuticle with the long axis parallel to the 
surface of the host skin. An N. pyste larva, upon hatching, emerged from a break at one end 
of the egg just above the area where it was attached. Infested host larvae had dark spots in 
the epidermal area, which appeared to be damaged tissue. Apparently these were areas 
where the parasite larvae entered the body of the host. The fully grown N. pyste larva left 
the host pupa through a break which it made between two abdominal segments on the 
host dorsum. It then moved to a location between the host pupa and the cocoon wall and 
pupated. Pupation lasted about 1 week. Occasionally a parasite destroyed the last larval 
stage in the laboratory and then pupated, but usually it emerged from the host pupa. The 
life cycle on C. houstonana requires about 1 month. 
 
Table I. Per cent of Nenzorilla pyste eggs on the head, thoracic and abdominal segments 1–10 of C. houstonana 
larvae, collected in Kansas, 1966 
  Location of eggs 
 Thorax  Abdomen 
Date County Head Pro- Meso- Meta-  1 2 3 4 5–10 
June 8 Pawnee 29.7 46.0 18.9 5.4  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
June 16 Pawnee 18.3 25.1 45.9 8.9  0.8 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 
June 23 Pawnee 10.0 71.0 13.0 6.0  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
June 23 Smith 5.0 20.0 40.0 15.0  15.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 
June 23 Pratt 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Average  12.6 42.4 33.6 7.1  3.1 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.0 
 
Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae 
Glypta n. sp.: 14 ex mass rearing material and host larvae reared on artificial diet collected 
in Pawnee and Pratt counties, 25 March–15 July 1966; emerged 1 June–2 July (host on arti-
ficial diet) and 7 July–1 August 1966 (mass rearing). Parasite larvae emerged from either 
eighth or ninth instar host larvae. The parasite in preparation for pupation spun a few 
strands of silk and attached the posterior end of the abdomen to it. It pupated 4 days after 
leaving the body of the host larva. Four days after molting to the pupal stage, the pupa 
darkened in color. The pupal stage lasted 8 days. This may be the same Glypta sp. Powell 
(1962) reared from C. houstonana in California. 
Campoplex sp.: 2 ex mass rearing material and larva reared on artificial diet collected in 
Smith and Pawnee counties, 11 April and 23 June 1966; emerged 8 July 1966. The parasite 
reared from the host on artificial diet died in the pupal stage. It emerged from a seventh 
instar host larva and pupated in a two-layered silken cocoon. A Campoplex sp. nr. hyalinus 
(Prov.) was reared from a penultimate instar C. houstonana by Powell (1962). 
 
Braconidae 
Agathis acrobasidis (Cushman): 64 ex mass rearing material larvae on artificial diet and lar-
vae reared on seedling juniper collected in Rooks, Pawnee, and Pratt counties, 25 March–
15 July 1966; emerged 17 May 1966 (host on artificial diet) and 1 July–2 August 1966 (mass 
rearing). This parasite apparently overwinters in C. houstonana. The two parasites reared 
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
4 
from hosts feeding on diet and a seedling juniper in the laboratory destroyed seventh in-
star larvae. The pupal stage lasted about 10 days. 
 
Eulophidae 
Elasmus atratus How.: 9 males and 8 females ex mass rearing material and larvae reared on 
artificial diet, collected in Pawnee and Pratt counties, 16 May–8 June 1966; emerged 3 June 
(host on artificial diet)–16 June 1966 (mass rearing). One parasite emerged from a fifth and 
another from a seventh instar larva. Pupal stage lasted 7 days. 
 
Pteromalidae 
Catolaccus aeneoviridis Girault: 11 males and 3 females ex mass rearing material and host 
larvae reared on artificial diet, collected in Pawnee and Pratt counties, 16 May–15 July 1966; 
emerged 24 June–15 July 1966. This species was considered a secondary parasite of C. 
houstonana because one adult parasite emerged from what appeared to be a dipterous 
pupa, probably N. pyste, which was located within a C. houstonana pupa. The adult emer-
gence hole measured 0.87 × 0.68 mm and was located in the center of the C. houstonana 
pupa and nearest to the posterior end of the primary parasite pupa. 
 
Associated Parasites 
 
Ichneumonidae 
Itoplectis conquisitor (Say): 32 ex mass rearing material collected in Rooks and(or) Pawnee 
County, June–July 1965; emerged June–July 1965. I. conquisitor was a very common parasite 
in 1965, but no specimens were collected in 1966. It is parasitic on many lepidopterous 
larvae. 
Pimpla aequalis (Prov.): 2 females ex mass rearing material collected in Rooks County, 15 
July 1966; emerged prior to 10 August 1966. 
Temelucha sp. (? or spp.): 12 ex mass rearing material collected in Smith, Rooks, Pawnee, 
and Pratt counties, 1 June–15 July 1966; emerged 6 June–4 August 1966. 
Toxophoroides albomarginatus albomarginatus (Cress.): 5 ex mass rearing material collected 
in Smith, Rooks, Pawnee, and Pratt counties, 23 June–6 July 1966; emerged 12 July–30 July 
1966. 
Pristomerus sp.: 1 female ex mass rearing material collected in Smith County 23 June 
1966; emerged prior to 10 August 1966. Powell (1962) reared one female from C. houstonana-
infested juniper foliage. 
 
Braconidae 
Hypomicrogaster zonaria (Say): 1 ex mass rearing material, collection locality unknown, 16 
May 1966; emerged 26 May 1966. 
Apanteles canarsiae Ashm.: 1 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 16 
May 1966; emerged on an undetermined date during May or June 1966. 
Apanteles griffini Vier.: 5 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee and Pratt counties, 
16 May–16 June 1966; emerged 23 May–24 June 1966. 
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
5 
Chelonus (Microchelonus) sp.: 2 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 1 
June 1966; emerged 11 June 1966. 
 
Chalcididae 
Brachymeria hammri (Cwfd.): 4 males and 1 female ex mass rearing material and collected 
with an insect net in Rooks and Pawnee counties 15 July 1966; mass-reared insects emerged 
23 July 1966. 
Brachymeria ovata (Say): 18 males and 3 females ex mass rearing material and collected 
with an insect net in Smith, Pawnee, Rooks, and Pratt counties, 6 July–15 July 1966; 
emerged 11 July–15 July 1966. B. ovata was collected with an insect net over J. virginiana 
infested with C. houstonana pupae, 15 July 1966, at 2 p.m. in Rooks County. 
Brachymeria compsilurae (Cwfd.): 1 male ex mass rearing material collected at either 
Rooks or Pawnee County, June 1965; emerged on an undetermined date during June or 
July 1965. 
Spilochalcis flavopicta (Cress.): 2 males and 3 females ex mass rearing material collected 
in Smith and Rooks counties 7 July–15 July 1966; emerged 13 July–23 July 1966. 
 
Encyrtidae 
Chrysophagus compressicornis Ashm.: 1 female ex mass rearing material collected in Paw-
nee County, 16 May 1966; emerged 31 May 1966. 
Copidosoma sp.: 1 ex mass rearing material collected in Smith County, 15 July 1966; emerged 
prior to 10 August 1966. 
 
Eurytomidae 
Eurytoma sp.: 4 males and 6 females ex mass rearing material collected in Smith, Rooks, 
and Pawnee counties, 15 July 1966; emerged 18 July–23 July 1966. 
 
Eulophidae 
Elachertus marylandicus Girault: 4 females ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee 
County, 15 July 1966; emerged prior to 10 August 1966. 
Dimmockia incongrua (Ashm.): 6 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 
10 May 1966; emerged on an undetermined date during May or June 1966. 
Tetrastichus coerulescens Ashm.: 1 female ex mass rearing material collected in Pratt 
County, 1 June 1966; emerged 11 June 1966. Powell (1962) reared T. coerulescens from C. 
houstonana and he stated that according to Dr. B. D. Burks it probably was a secondary 
associate. 
Tetrastichus sp.: 1 female ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 16 May 
1966; emerged 31 May 1966. 
 
Pteromalidae 
Dibrachys cavus (Wlkr.): approximately 52 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee 
County, 23 June–15 July 1966; emerged 7 July–19 July 1966. 
  
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
6 
Torymidae 
Torymus ebrius (O.S.): 2 females ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 16 
May 1966; emerged 27 May 1966. 
Torymus sp.: 4 males ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 16 May 1966; 
emerged 23 May–5 June 1966. 
 
Eupelmidae 
Eupelmus sp.: 1 male ex mass rearing material collected in Pratt County, 16 May 1966; 
emerged 19 June 1966. 
 
Mymaridae 
Acmopolynema bifasciatipennis (Girault): 1 male ex mass rearing material collected in Pratt 
County, 16 June 1966; emerged 19 June 1966. 
 
Scelionidae 
Telenomus sp.: 4 ex mass rearing material collected in Smith and Rooks counties, 7 July–17 
July 1966; emerged 11 July–20 July 1966. 
Idris sp.: 6 ex mass rearing material collected in Pawnee County, 30 July 1966; emerged 
prior to 10 August 1966. 
 
Platygasteridae 
Amblyaspis sp.: 2 ex mass rearing material collected in Smith County, 15 July 1966; emerged 
prior to 10 August 1966. 
 
Predators 
 
Insecta, Reduviidae 
Zelus socius Uhler: 2 nymphs and 1 adult ex foliage returned to the laboratory from Pawnee 
County, 29 March and 7 July 1966. Nymphs were observed feeding on half-grown C. 
houstonana larvae. Adult was feeding on an adult C. houstonana. 
 
Arachnida, Thomisidae 
Xysticus ferox (Hentz.): 1 female, collection locality and date unknown. It was feeding on 
an adult in a parasite collection jar in the laboratory. 
 
Dictynidae 
Dictyna bellans Chamberlin: 3 males, 19 females, and 7 immatures collected in Smith, Paw-
nee, and Rooks counties ex trees and ex foliage returned to the laboratory, 14 April–23 June 
1966. Two females and one immature were observed feeding on half-grown larvae in the 
laboratory. 
Dictyna volucripes Keyserling: 6 females and 1 immature collected in Pawnee County ex 
trees and ex foliage returned to the laboratory, 16 May–23 June 1966. One immature was 
observed feeding on a half-grown larva in the laboratory. 
  
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
7 
Epeiridae 
Eustala ? anastera (Walckenaer): 1 immature collected in Pawnee County ex tree, July 1966. 
It was feeding at night on an adult caught in a spider web. 
 
Salticidae 
Eris vitis (Cock.): 1 male, 1 female, and 3 immatures collected in Smith, Rooks, and Pawnee 
counties ex trees and ex foliage; returned to the laboratory, 8 June–23 June 1966. One im-
mature was observed feeding on a half-grown larva in the laboratory. 
Phidippus rimator (Walckenaer): 3 immatures ex foliage returned to the laboratory from 
Smith, Pawnee, and Pratt counties, collection date unknown. One specimen was observed 
feeding on a half-grown larva in the laboratory. 
 
Associated Predators 
 
Arachnida, Therididae 
Theridion murarium Emerton: 6 males, 16 females, and 7 immatures collected in Pawnee 
County ex trees, 15 March–15 June 1966. 
Theridion sp.: 1 immature collected in Pawnee County ex tree, 2 May 1966. 
 
Thomisidae 
Misumenops sp.: 3 immatures collected in Pawnee and Pratt counties ex trees, 16 May–16 
June 1966. 
Philodromus cespiticolis (Walckenaer): 1 female and 5 immatures collected in Rooks and 
Pawnee counties ex trees, 16 May–23 June 1966. 
Philodromus keyserlingi Marx: 2 females and 1 immature collected in Smith and Pawnee 
counties ex trees, 2 May–23 June 1966. 
 
Argiopidae 
Argiopidae sp.: 1 immature collected in Pawnee County ex trees, 16 May 1966. 
 
Clubionidae 
Chiracanthium inclusum (Hentz): 1 immature ex foliage returned to the laboratory from 
Pratt County, 16 June 1966. 
 
Dictynidae 
Dictyna reticulata Gertsch and Ivie: 1 male, 1 female, and 1 immature collected in Rooks 
and Pawnee counties ex trees, 15 June–23 June 1966. 
 
Gnaphosidae 
Drasyllus ? sp.: 1 immature collected in Pawnee County ex trees, 2 May 1966. 
 
Oxyopidae 
Oxyopes scalaris Hentz: 3 males and 1 female collected in Pawnee County ex trees, 5 May–
1 June 1966. 
H E I N R I C H S  A N D  T H O M P S O N ,  T H E  C A N A D I A N  E N T O M O L O G I S T  1 0 0  (1 9 6 8 )  
8 
Salticidae 
Gertschia noxiosa (Hentz): 1 male collected in Pawnee County ex trees, 16 May 1966. 
Habrocestum pulex (Hentz): 1 male ex foliage returned to the laboratory from Pawnee 
County, 16 May 1966. 
Metahidippus galathea (Walckenaer): 2 females collected in Pawnee County ex trees, 1 
May–26 June 1966. 
Phidippus audax (Hentz): 2 immatures ex foliage returned to the laboratory from Pawnee 
and Pratt counties, 23 June–25 June 1966. 
Phidippus incertus Peckham: 1 immature ex foliage returned to the laboratory, collection 
locality unknown, 24 June 1966. 
 
Linyphiidae 
Frontinella communis (Hentz): 1 immature ex foliage returned to the laboratory from Rooks 
County, 14 April 1966. 
 
Notes 
 
1. Contribution No. 930, Department of Entomology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Man-
hattan, Ks. Funds provided in part by Kansas project 671, supported by McIntyre Stennis Act. A 
minor portion of a dissertation presented as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree 
of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology at Kansas State University. 
2. Premium Plastics Co., 2440 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago, Ill., No. 6916. 
 
Reference 
 
Powell, J. A. 1962. Host-parasite relationships of California Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). 
The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 38: 131–140. 


Parasites, Predators, and Other Arthropods Associated with \u3ci\u3eChoristoneura houstonana\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on \u3ci\u3eJuniperus\u3c/i\u3e Species in Kansas

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1807&amp;context=entomologyfacpub

Parasites, Predators, and Other Arthropods Associated with \u3ci\u3eChoristoneura houstonana\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on \u3ci\u3eJuniperus\u3c/i\u3e Species in Kansas

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UNL | Libraries