Natural enemies of the melonworm, Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Puerto Rico

Abstract

The melonworm Diaphania hyalinata L. is the main pest of pumpkins in Puerto Rico. If also attacks other cucurbitaceous crops. Important natural enemies of this insect were recorded and identified from Puerto Rico, two of them for the first time: Agrypon sp. and Eiphosoma sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Apanteles impiger Muesebeck and Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera:Braconidae); Spilochalcis sp. (Hymenoptera:Chalcididae); Catolaccus sp. (Hymenoptera:Pteromalidae); Nemorilla maculosa Macquart and Nemorilla sp. poss. pyste (Walker) and Stomatodexia cothurnatha (Wiedemann) (Diptera:Tachinidae); and the following predators: Podissus sagitta (Fabricius) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae); Monomorium destructor (Jerdon) (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) and Polistes crinitus (Felton) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).