Field surveys of parasitoids of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L), have indicated that Apanteles plutellae Kurdj may have a suppressing effect on the population of this insect. How important the parasitoid really is and to what extent it is beneficial is, however, not exactly known. This was, therefore, evaluated using an insecticide-check method whereby four treatments, each having dif...

A 5-mo survey for fruit feeding Lepidoptera attacking Hass and non-Hass avocados (Persea americana Miller [Lauraceae]) was conducted in Guatemala from 1 November 2006 to 1 April 2007. In total, 6,740 fruit were collected from 22 different areas in Guatemala. Eight species of Lepidoptera, of which at least two are species new to science, were reared from avocado fruit. Reared Lepidoptera were Am...