Assessing and Augmenting Biological Control of Tarnished Plant Bug in New York Strawberries

Abstract

The objective for this project is to investigate biological control of the tarnished plant bug in New York strawberries by the introduced parasitoid wasp Peristenus digoneutis. The first project goal for 1998 was to evaluate the impact of companion plantings of alfalfa on parasitism rates in nearby strawberries. The field experiment aimed at this goal was unsuccessful because plots did not survive overwintering in 1997-1998. The second goal was to continue a sampling program for parasitoids of tarnished plant bug in New York strawberries, including day-neutral varieties.