Use of Stress Tolerant Trichogramma chilonis in Agricultural Pest Management

Abstract

Trichogramma are parasitic wasps widely used in biological control to manage pest populations, particularly in agriculture. These tiny wasps lay their eggs inside the eggs of various insect pests, preventing the development of the pest larvae. Trichogrammatids that are mass-reared for use in biological control need to be able to withstand the environmental conditions that they will encounter in the target crop ecosystem. Stress-tolerant Trichogramma refers to Trichogramma strains that have been specifically selected or genetically engineered to withstand adverse environmental conditions or stresses that may affect their survival and efficacy in pest control. These stressors could include high temperatures, drought, low humidity, pesticide exposure, or other challenging conditions that may occur in the field. Studies have shown that Trichogramma are most tolerant to temperatures between 15 and 35 °C. Temperatures outside of this range can cause problems for Trichogramma, such as decreased survival, reduced fecundity, and impaired ability to parasitize host eggs.