PARASITOIDS OF EUROPEAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS PISSODES (COL, CURCULIONIDAE) AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR THE BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF PISSODES-STROBI (PECK) IN CANADA

The parasitoid complex of five species of the genus Pissodes was investigated at several sites in Europe. At most of these sites, parasitism was dominated by the braconids Eubazus spp. Another braconid, Coeloides sordidator (Ratz.), was dominant in some of the populations of Pissodes piniphilus (Hbst.) and P. castaneus DeGeer while the ichneumonid Dolichomitus terebrans (Ratz.) and three pteromalid species were locally abundant on P. castaneus. The possibility of using European parasitoids in a biological control program against the native pest P. strobi in North America is discussed. Eubazus spp. and C. sordidator are considered the best candidates for introduction against P. strobi. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.