Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae): ciclo biologico e nemici naturali in alcune regioni dell'Italia Centrale [Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae): lyfe cycle and natural enemies in some Central Italian regions]

The life cycle and natural enemies of cameraria ohridella were investigated in Marche and Abruzzo during 2003. Sex pheromone traps were used to monitor adult flights of the leaf miner. The parasitism rate was determinated examinating infested horse-cestnut leaves containing larvae and pupae of the hosts. Capture of adult moth have been recorded from beginning of April until the end of November. Three-four flight peaks have been recorded in function of the vegetative state of the infested plants. Nine species of Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea were found: Chrysocharis nephereus, Cirrospilus talitzkii, Cirrospilus viticola, Closterocerus trifasciatus, Eupelmus urozonus, Minotetrastichus frontalis, Pediobius saulius, Pnigalio agraules and Sympiesis sericeicornis. The rate of parasitism at different sampling dates did not exceed 26.5% with a medium level from 3.1% to 4.2%.