Leafminer parasitoids and pest management. Literature review.

Abstract

Leafminers are insects whose larvae live and feed within plant leaves, consuming mesophyll tissue without damaging the leaf epidermis. Several species are considered serious pests on intensive, horticultural, and ornamental crops. Natural enemies are the most frequent source of mortality for this herbivore insect guild, with parasitoids being the most effective and best represented source. This article provides an updated summary of the available research on leafminer parasitoids in relation to pest management. Parasitoids of leafminers are predominantly generalists, and can thus rapidly include in their host ranges newly introduced leafminer species, frequently achieving effective regulation a few years after the pest becomes established. Classical and augmentative biological control strategies are broadly used for leafminer pest management. Several studies have dealt with the simultaneous use of parasitoids together with chemical and cultural control. Many conventional insecticides have detrimental effects on parasitoids; however, others could be compatible with biological control. Although integrated pest management programs employing a combination of several control strategies have achieved success against leafminer pests, the effects of cultural practices that could boost parasitoid populations have been scarcely studied