Natural enemies associated with lepidopteran pests in food and feed processing companies

A survey of natural enemies was conducted in six facilities, four companies dealing with dried fruits and two mill companies. We assessed the natural enemies of pests occurring in the facilities, the pest species with which they were associated and the temporal dynamics of both. Pheromone traps, yellow sticky traps and light traps were used for sampling, whose efficiency was evaluated in terms of number of captures, number of months with captures and which trap had the first capture of the season regarding the species of interest. Two families of lepidopteran pests were captured. Pyralidae was the most abundant, followed by Gelechiidae. In addition, individuals from 9 families of coleopteran pest were captured in the traps. The most abundant were Anobiidae, Tenebrionidae and Dermestidae. The main species of parasitoids occurring naturally at all companies were Venturia canescens and Habrobracon hebetor, with fewer Anisopteromalus calandrae and Cephalonomia waterstoni. The presence of parasitoids in the facilities during the sampling period was constant, with peaks ranging from May to September, depending on the facility. These peaks were associated with pest abundance, which peaked from May to October. Pheromone traps were best for capturing lepidopteran pests. Light traps were more efficient in capturing parasitoids. Yellow sticky traps were also useful in cases where light traps could not be used. The samples of infested product showed that the parasitoids V. canescens and H. hebetor were established in the facilities, as they emerged from lepidopteran larvae in the products.

► There were parasitoids naturally occurring in the food and feed processing companies sampled. ► Venturia canescens and Habrobracon hebetor are found in all facilities during all the year. ► Anisopteromalus calandrae and Cephalonomia waterstoni are also abundant. ► Light traps are more effective than yellow traps for natural enemies.