Parasitoid wasps are highly effective biological control agents, capable of parasitizing eggs, larvae, and adults of various insect species. They often act with other natural enemies, highlighting their importance in pest management strategies for crops such as rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, their effective application requires understanding of their field interactions and the influence of crop cultivars and plot heterogeneity, providing essential insights for developing sustainable practices that optimize ecological interactions in agroecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate natural egg parasitism in two economically important rice pests, Tibraca limbativentris Stål and Oebalus spp., while considering the influence of local-scale factors (plot edge vs. center) and plant architectural traits (tall vs. short cultivars) on parasitoid incidence. To achieve this, ten rice paddies in Argentina were sampled throughout the crop cycle. Stink bug egg masses were manually collected from both plot zones (edge/center), considering two rice cultivars (tall/short plants). Eggs were placed in 250cc containers covered with voile fabric and monitored daily until either parasitoids or nymphs emerged. Taxonomic determination was performed by examining nymphal characters, and parasitoids were identified using the relevant literature. In total, 1,331 eggs (58.68% from T. limbativentris and 41.32% from Oebalus spp.) were obtained, mainly collected during the crop reproductive phenology. Overall, 22.84% of eggs were parasitized by Telenomus sp., and parasitism was consistently higher at plot edges for both pest groups. The incidence of Telenomus sp. also varied with rice cultivars: no parasitism of T. limbativentris occurred in tall cultivars, but it did occur in short ones, while parasitism of Oebalus was highest in tall plants and lowest in short plants. These results demonstrate that local-scale factors and plant architecture affect Telenomus sp. activity, and despite agrochemical use, this parasitoid remain active, contributing to pest suppression and emphasizing their agroecological importance in local crops.
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Patterns of Natural Egg Parasitism by Telenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Stink Bug Pests in Argentine Rice Fields
Published:
11 December 2025
by MDPI
in The 5th International Electronic Conference on Agronomy
session Biostimulation and Biocontrol Strategies
Abstract:
Keywords: Parasitoid wasps; Oryza sativa L.; Pentatomidae
