Parasitism of Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs and larvae and Celama sorghiella (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs on grain sorghum panicles

Grain sorghum panicles were collected and examined for Heliothis zea (Boddie) eggs and larvae and Celama sorghiella (Riley) eggs during 1986-1988 in seven sorghum fields along the Red River in southwestern Arkansas, northeastern Texas, and southeastern Oklahoma. Trichogramma exiguum (Pinto and Planter) and T. pretiosum Riley were the predominant parasites attacking H. zea and C. sorghiella eggs. Trichogramma spp. appeared to be an important mortality factor of H. zea and C. sorghiella eggs on grain sorghum panicles, particularly if H. zea or C. sorghiella eggs were available through the season for Trichogramma spp. to build up on. Seven species of parasites were reared from H. zea larvae; one eulophid, three tachinids, and three braconids. The incidence of larval parasitism was low, less than 2%, for the three-year study and appeared to have a minimal effect on larval numbers.