Parasitic insects associated with Lepidoptera on fresh-market tomato in southeast Arkansas [Heliothis spp.]

Parasitism of Heliothis spp. and other Lepidoptera was monitored in commercial fresh-market tomato fields in southeast Arkansas during 1981 and 1982. Heliothis , looper, and tobacco hornworm eggs were commonly parasitized throughout the season by Trichogramma spp., primarily T. exiguum . Generally a higher percentage of Heliothis eggs were parasitized compared with looper eggs. The only larval parasitoid of Heliothis spp. found repeatedly was a species of Campoletis . Looper specimens were commonly parasitized by the egg-larval parasitoid Copidosoma truncatella .