Abstract

Information on the parasitoids of H. puera in India are summarized and based on original data on pest and parasitoid populations and their dynamics in teak plantations at Nilambur, Kerala, the potential of each group of parasitoids for applied biological control is evaluated. It is shown that well-timed inundative release of selected parasitoids holds promise for the control of the pest. The most promising species for the applied biological control of H. purea through inundative release of mass reared parasitoids are the bethylid Goniozus montanus and the eulophids Sympiesis sp. has been reared Corcyra in our laboratory. The usefulness of the braconid Apanteles machaeralis and the inchneumonid Eriborus gardneri also needs further study. Achievement of practical control depends on our ability to predict or detect the outbreaks promptly through a surveilance system, and release of mass-reared parasitoids with the speed and efficiency similar to that of a fire-fighting