Detoxifying Enzymes and Susceptibility to Several Insecticides of Apanteles plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Diadegma semiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Parasitoids of Diamondback Moth Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Larvae

Because of increasing pesticide resistance among diamondback moths, biological control methods are receiving increased attention. Diadegma semiclausum Hellen and Apanteles plutellae Kurdj, which both parasitize the moth as larvae, hold some promise as moth control agents. The susceptibility of the parasites to three insecticides-methyl parathion, malathion, and fenvalerate-was assessed. Detoxifying enzymes in D. semiclausum and A. plutellae were also studied. While fenvalerate was not very toxic to A. plutellae, both parasites were quite susceptible to the other two insecticides.