PARASITOIDS OF <em>ASPHONDYLIA</em> <em>PONGAMIAE</em> (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE), THE FLOWER GALL INDUCER OF <em>PONGAMIA</em> <em>PINNATA</em> AND THEIR ROLES IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Abstract

DEVARAJ R & SUNDARARAJ R. 2014. Parasitoids of Asphondylia pongamiae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the flower gall inducer of Pongamia pinnata and their roles in biological control. Pongamia pinnata is an important indigenous nitrogen fixing evergreen tree and is recognised as a viable source of oil for the growing biofuel industry. The source of its oil is mainly dependent on naturally growing trees and young plantations. Most of the naturally growing or planted P. pinnata trees suffer damage due to the flower gall inducer, Asphondylia pongamiae, as infestation directly affects the production of seeds. Detailed studies were conducted from 2007 till 2009 to identify the natural parasitoids of A. pongamiae. The study revealed the occurrence of four species of hymenopteran parasitoids, namely, Eurytoma dentata, Megastigmus albizziae, Neanastatus proximus and Ormyrus kama. The presence of all these parasitoids on A. pongamiae formed first records. Among these parasitoids maximum parasitisation was by E. dendata followed by M. albizziae, N. proximus and O. kama. Combined parasitisation, amounting to 37.56% in 2008–2009 and 44.54% in 2007–2008 was observed indicating that these parasitoids played significant role in keeping the population of A. pongamiae under control.