Seasonal incidence of hymenopterous parasitoids of top shoot borer, Cydia hemidoxa Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on black pepper

The seasonal incidence of Apanteles cypris Nixon and Goniozus sp. parasitising the top shoot borer, Cydia hemidoxa Meyrick, on black pepper, Piper nigrum Linnaeus at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala, India) was studied. A. cypris was recorded for the first time on C. hemidoxa. It was the predominant species occurring during September-November with a peak incidence of 20 per cent in October. The mean larval parasitism during this period was 16.7 and 12.2 per cent in 1991 and 1992, respectively. Goniozus sp. was less important and prevalent during August-November, the peak incidence being 6.7 per cent during September/October. The mean larval parasitism during this period was 4.2 and 4.4 per cent in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The synchronisation of host and parasitoid population appears to be an important factor in the natural control of C. hemidoxa.