Trichogramma ostriniae as a sustainable biological control agent against Ostrinia furnacalis: an eight-year field and laboratory study in China

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis is a major global pest. This study evaluated the parasitism capacity of three Trichogramma species ( T. ostriniae, T. chilonis , and T. dendrolimi ) on corn borer eggs under laboratory conditions and monitored corn borer dynamics in the Huang-Huai-Hai river region, China (2015–2022). The laboratory results showed that T. ostriniae had the greatest parasitism ability, followed by T. dendrolimi. However, T. chilonis showed no capacity for parasitism. Field experiments showed that T. ostriniae achieved the highest parasitism rates (up to 90%) during peak pest periods (mid-July and mid-August). Significant reductions in corn damage were observed in 2016 and 2021 in T. ostriniae treated fields, which also showed higher natural enemy diversity, abundance, and species evenness compared to the chemical control plots. Trichogramma ostriniae provides comparable pest control efficacy to chemical pesticides while enhancing ecological sustainability, making it a viable strategy for integrated pest management.