Laboratory, greenhouse and field studies were conducted on Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov, a parasite of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), to judge its suitability for introduction in the field to control the plutellid. Oomyzus sokolowskii preferred the third and fourth instar diamondback moth larvae over fresh pupae for parasitization. It is thus a larval parasite. Within the range of...

This laboratory study investigated whether the larval-pupal parasitoid Oomyzus sokolowskii females adjust their brood size and sex ratio in response to body size and stage of Plutella xylostella larval hosts, as well as to their own body size and the order of oviposition. These factors were analyzed using multiple regression with simultaneous entry of them and their two-way interactions. Parasi...

The population dynamics of major brassica pests and occurrence of their natural enemies were monitored weekly for a period of 9 months on cabbage (var. Copenhagen Market) at a research station plot (no pesticides applied) and a farmer’s field (weekly application of Permethrin 10 EC or Dimethoate 40 EC) in Central Kenya. Pest infestations occurred within 14 days after the seedlings were transpla...

The effects of two neem insecticide formulations (an oil-free powder formulation and an oil formulation) on field parasitism of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), larvae and, on the longevity and foraging behaviour of Diadegma mollipla (Holmgren), were evaluated in field and laboratory tests. Overall, larval parasitism in plots sprayed with the oil-free neem formulation was not signifi...

Since 1996, as part of a cooperative ARS/CIRAD Plutella biocontrol program, 115 Plutella populations have been collected in 32 countries from cole crops and cruciferous weeds. Twenty-seven primary hymenopterous parasitoid species were found, especially Diadegma spp., Cotesia plutellae and Oomyzus sokolowskii. A number of fungal pathogens, isolates of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Paecilomyces sp.,...

one species of eulophidae, oomyzus sokolowskii (kurdjumov), was collected from larvae of the diamondback moth, plutella xylostella (l.) (lep.: plutellidae). this parasitoid is a major gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid of p. xylostella that prefers ovipositing into host larvae but depositing its eggs in host prepupae too. this is the first report of the occurrence of this species from iran.