INSECT PARASITES OF THE DARKSIDED CUTWORM,

EUXOA MESSORZA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), IN ONTARIO1

H. H. CHENG
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Delhi, Ontario

Abstract Can. Enr. 109: 137- 142 (1977)

In the study of insect parasites of the darksided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), fourth- to
seventh-instar larvae were collected from a field at Delhi, Ont., and reared in the laboratory. A
total of 701 insect parasites including six species of Hymenoptera and four of Diptera, were
reared from the 3970 darksided cutworm larvae collected in 1973 and 1974.
Thirteen species of insect parasites of E. messoria are listed. Ten of these species were
reared in the present study frornE. messoria in Ontario and all of them are primary and internal
parasites. Of the 10, only two have previously been reported as parasites of E. messoria.
Host-parasite relationship and the degree of parasitism are given for the 10 species reared in
Ontario.

Introduction
The darksidled cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), has been reported as a
destructive pest of the tobacco crop in Ontario for many years (Cheng 1971, 1 9 7 3 ~ ) .
Annual infestations have occurred in the tobacco-growing areas and are numerous
enough in tobacco fields to necessitate chemical control (Cheng 1973b, 1975; Harris
et al. 1973). Two hymenopterous and three dipterous parasites reared from the dark-
sided cutworm are listed in the literature (Crumb 1929; Graham 1965; Thompson 1945;
Peck 1963). However, no previous research on the impact of parasites of the darksided
cutworm has been performed in North America.
The purpose:s of this investigation were to determine the insect parasites of the
darksided cutworm in Ontario, the degree of parasitism, and the importance and
possible roles of the parasites in the tobacco crop and pest relationship. This information
may serve as a basis for future work in the area of integrated control of this pest.

Materials and Methods

The investigation was carried out at the Research Station, Agriculture Canada,
Delhi, Ont., in th~egrowing seasons of 1973 and 1974.
Larvae of the darksided cutworm were collected by a previously described method
(Bucher and Che~ng1970). Trap plants of tobacco seedlings were set out in a rye field
adjacent to a tobacco field. Insecticides had not been applied to either field for 8 years.
Cutworm larvae were collected twice a week from the traps, beginning in the first week
of June and continuing through the first week in July. The traps were replanted with
tobacco seedlings when necessary.
Captured larvae were reared in the laboratory in individual rearing jars, 4.5 cm in
diameter and 7.0 cm in height, covered with screens. About 11/2 cm of each jar was
filled with sand, and fresh tobacco leaves were placed in the jar as food supply. The
sand and food in each jar were replaced every second day. The larvae were transferred
to clean jars when the sand became badly contaminated with feces. The used jars were
sterilized before !:hey were used again to prevent or reduce the spread of disease in the
laboratory. Forceps used to handle cutworms were sterilized with a flame after each
diseased specimen or a few larvae were handled. If the larvae were parasitized or the
immature stages of the parasites emerged from the hosts, they were placed individually
in glass vials (2X 7 cm); the vials were then plugged with moist cotton and placed in a
tray. If the immature stage of the parasite happened to be in a diapause stage, they were
placed individually in screen boxes ( 8 ~ 4 x 5cm) with three-quarters of each box
'Contribution No. 110 of the Research Station.

137
138 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST January 1977

embedded in the ground of an open field and filled with moist soil to overwinter. All
collected larvae were reared at room temperature (24"-26°C) and 16-h photoperiod until
the cutworm adults or the parasites emerged.
After emergence, parasite adults were pinned with the stage of the host from which
they emerged, or left in the vials for 48 h to allow for the hardening of the integument,
then were preserved in 70% alcohol. All parasite adults were sent to the Biosystematics
Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, for specific identification.

Results and Discussion

Records of Parasites
Thirteen primary insect parasites of E. messoria are listed below. These were
obtained from the references and the present study. Eight species are new records, and
three others were not observed during the current study. In the list, a single asterisk
indicates parasites newly recorded during this study, and parasites not observed are
denoted by a double asterisk.
HYMENOPTERA
Braconidae
*Meteorus leviventris (Wesmael)
Ichneumonidae
*Eutanyacra suturalis (Say)
**Spilichneumon superbus (Provancher) (Graham 1965)
*Arenetra sp.
*Campoletisflavicinctus (Ashmead)
*Enicospilus sp.
Encyrtidae
Copidosoma bakeri (Howard) (Peck 1963; Bucher and Cheng 1971; Walkden 1950)
DIPTERA
Muscidae
*Muscina stabulans (Fall.)
Sarcophagidae
**Sarcophaga cimbicis Town (Crumb 1929)
Tachinidae
*Winthemia rufopicta (Bigot)
* Winthemia deilephilae (0.S .)
Linnaemya compta (Fall.) (Bucher and Cheng 1971; Thompson 1945, 1951) as
Bonnetia compta Fall. (Crumb 1929)
**Aphria ocypterata Town (Crumb 1929)

Parasites Observed in Ontario

A total of 347 primary parasites were reared from 1978 darksided cutworm larvae
collected from the field in 1973, and 354 primary parasites from 1992 darksided
cutworm larvae in 1974. All the larvae were fourth to seventh instars at the time
collected. Ten species of parasites were reared in this study, six Hymenoptera and four
Diptera (Table I). All the insect parasites are primary and internal parasites of the
darksided cutworm.
Copidosoma bakeri (Howard). This species was one of the most common
parasites observed. It is probably the most important single mortality factor of the
darksided cutworm larvae. An average of 14.7% of the larvae were parasitized by this
species and killed in the late prepupal stage (Table I).
This species is widely distributed in the central and northern United States, and
Canada, and is a common parasite of Noctuidae (Peck 1963). Several writers (Gibson
1915; Strickland 1916; King and Atkinson 1928; Cook 1930) have recorded the biology
and development of C. bakeri, but the most detailed work on this species was published
by Schaaf (1972).
Volume 109 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 139

C . bakeri is a well-known polyembryonic parasite. It oviposits in the eggs of the

darksided cutworm but the hosts are not killed until the late period of the prepupal stage.
The mature larvae of C. bakeri can be seen through the host integument. They utilize all
tissues of the host except for skin, and they are packed into every portion of the body
including the prolegs, mouth parts, brain, and eyes. Finally the body of the host
becomes flattened, screw- or snake-shaped, or almost normally curved.
In the laboratory, each of the mature C. bakeri larvae forms an individually
membranous cocoon in the host and pupation takes place in the cocoon within 2 days
after the host body totally collapses. The newly-formed pupa appears cream in colour
which changes to black as the pupa matures. Therefore, the host carcass appears to
darken noticeably due to the colour change of the individual C. bakeri pupae.
An average of 1123 C. bakeri adults (range 762-1446 adults/host) of one sex
emerge from a single host carcass about 16 to 25 days after death of the host. The host
carcass is perforated with tiny holes on all sides. Some adults do not form new holes,
instead they prefer to use near-by old holes. The longevity of the C. bakeri adults was
about 12 days.
Under field conditions, C. bakeri adults emerge from the darksided cutworm larvae
during August arid early September. The peak period is between late August and the
first week in September, approximately the same time as do the E. messoria adults,
whose peak period is between the last week in August and the second week in
September (Cheng 1 9 7 3 ~ ) .
Arenetra sp. The genus Arenetra, according to Muesebeck et al. (1951), is
composed of two species; however, no host has been recorded for this genus. There are
no accounts on the biology of the genus Arenetra in the literature.
In the present study, Arenetra sp. (possibly an undescribed species) was common
and always reared from the darksided cutworm larvae. It parasitized 5.0% of the larvae
collected from the field and killed the hosts in their sixth instar (Table I). The first
evidence of the presence of an Arenetra sp. larva in an E. messoria larva appears a few
days before the host is killed. At this period, the host is more sluggish and eats less than
normal. Subsequently, the host stops eating, loses its mobility, and begins to shrink in
size and loses its normal shape. Just before the Arenetra sp. larva emerges, it can be
seen moving in the host, and the integument of the host is very limp. The parasite larva

Table I. Primary insect parasites of the darksided cutworm, E. messoria, reared from collections, at
Delhi, Ontario

Number of host
larvae parasitized
Mean % Stage
Insect parasite 1973 1974 parasitism killed

HYMENOPTERA
Meteorus levivenlri~: 6
Eutanyacra suturalis Pupa
Arenetra sp. 6
CampoletisJavicinc:tus 4
Enicospilus sp. ',Prepupa
Copidosoma bakeri Prepupa
DIPTERA
Muscina stabulans
Winthemia rufopicta
Winthemia deilephilae
Linnaemya compta
140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST January 1977

devours the entire contents of the host so that after it emerges from the host, the only
remains are skin which is nearly transparent and lies flat. The parasite larva begins to
spin its cocoon after emergence and usually needs some object to crawl against so that it
can complete its cocoon, which is brown in colour and ranges from 12 to 14 mm in
length and 3 to 4 mm in diameter. The larva will die if it spins out all the silk it has and
fails to complete its cocoon. Pupation takes place in the cocoon before winter. The
Arenetra sp. overwinters in the pupal stage within the cocoon in the soil. The adults of
the Arenetra sp. emerge the following spring. In the laboratory the adult can be kept
alive for about 2 weeks. This is the first record of theArenetra sp. as a primary, internal
parasite of E. messoria in North America.
Enicospilus sp. Muesebeck et a l . (1951) list nine species in this genus, four with
host records. one of these host records are for cutworks of the genus Euxoa. This
species is a primary internal parasite of E. messoria. An average of 2% of the darksided
cutworm larvae are parasitized by this species, and the host is killed in its last instar or
prepupal stage (Table I).
In general, a few days before the host is killed, the parasitized larva loses its
mobility, and shrinks noticeably. Just before the Enicospilus sp. larva emerges, it can
be seen moving in the host. The Enicospilus sp. larva consumes the entire contents of
the host so that after it emerges from the host, the only remains are skin. The larva of
this species is bigger than the Arenetra sp. larva.
The cocoon of the Enicospilus sp. is usually spun in the soil close to the host skin.
The cocoon is very fine, thick and strong in texture, dark brown in colour, and ranges
from 10.0 to 14.2 mm in length and 4.0 to 6.5 mm in diameter. The cocoon consists of
two main layers: an inner layer which is very thin, much like a mucous membrane and is
possibly used for keeping a constant larva body moisture during the long overwintering
period; an outer layer which is very thick, strong and parchment-like, and consists of
many thin layers of the same naterials. The Enicospilus sp. overwinters in the mature
larval stage within the cocoon in the soil. pupation takes place in the cocoon the next
spring. The adult of the Enicospilus sp. emerges in June. This is the first record of the
Enicospilus sp. as a primary, internal parasite of E. messoria larvae in North America.
Campoletisflavicinctus (Ashmead). Until recorded as a primary, internal parasite
of E. messoria in this study, this species was known to parasitize only the cotton
cutworm, Prodenia ornithogalli Guen. (Muesebeck et a l . 1951). Only five specimens
of this species were reared from the fourth-instar larvae of the darksided cutworm
collected from the field in 1974. When the parasite larva is mature, it emerges from the
host and spins its cocoon in the soil. The cocoon is tan in colour and ranges from 5.7 to
6.2 mm in length and 2.6 to 3.0 mm in diameter. Pupation takes place in the cocoon,
and the adult emerges in late June. The overwintering stage of this species is not known.
Eutanyacra suturalis (Say). Schaaf (1972) lists four cutworm hosts for this
species, and this study includes the darksided cutworm. Only one specimen of this
species was reared from the darksided cutworm during the period of this study. Its
biology is not known, and this is the first record of E. suturalis as a primary parasite of
the darksided cutworm in North America.
Meteorus leviventris (Wesmael). Species of Meteorus are numerous, and many
species of this genus have been recorded as parasites of many noctuid species
(Muesebeck et a l . 1951; Krombein et a l . 1958). During the period of this study,
M . leviventris attacked only one specimen of E. messoria and killed the host in its sixth
instar. More than 10 parasite larvae emerged from one host larva and six of them spun
their cocoons and reached the adult stage. No host is listed for this species by Krombein
et al. (1958). This is the first record of M . leviventris as a primary parasite of
E. messoria in North America.
Volume 109 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 141

Winthemia rzgopicta (Bigot). This species is widely distributed in the United

States and Canada and is probably the best known dipterous species that has been
recorded as a primary parasite of many noctuid species. Recently, Danks (1975a, b )
reviewed the extensive literature on W . rufopicta and reported the biology of this insect
and its relationship with these Heliothis hosts in North Carolina.
A few larvae of the darksided cutworm, bearing several white eggs on the dorsal
part of the thorax, were collected from the field every year. When the parasite larva is
mature, it emerges from the host'and forms its puparium in the soil. Two to four, adults
were reared from one host larva. This is the first record of W . rufopicta as a primary
parasite of E. messoria in North America.
Winthemia ibilephilae (O.S.). Only one specimen was reared from a
seventh-instar larva with two adults of W . rufopicta. It appears to be a new record for
eastern Canada, and this is the first record of W . deilephilae as a primary parasite of
E. messoria in Nolrth America.
Linnaemya (= Bonnetia) compta (Fall.). This species was recorded as being
reared from E. messoria by Crumb (1929). Thompson (1951) lists six other cutworm
hosts for this species. Adults of L. compta deposit whitish eggs on the host similar to
that of W . rufopicta. The mature parasite larva emerges from the host and forms its
puparium in the soil. Three specimens of this species were reared from the
seventh-instar larva of the dark-sided cutworm during the period of this study.
Muscina stabulans (Fall.). Only two specimens were recorded from one host
larva of the darksided cutworm in 1973, and nothing is known of the biology of this
species.
Ten species (of parasites, six species of Hymenoptera and four of Diptera, were
reared from E. messoria during this study (Table I). Copidosoma bakeri, Arenetra sp.,
and Enicospilus sp. were the most common species reared from E. messoria larvae and
were present in considerable numbers every year. It would appear that C . bakeri,
Arenetra sp., and Enicospilus sp. were the most important parasites of E. messoria and
the total complex of these three species would possibly be an important regulatory factor
in the population fluctuations of the darksided cutworm. From the economic point of
view, the Arenetra sp. is considered the most effective parasite of the darksided
cutworm in the current generation in Ontario. It kills the sixth-instar larvae and
essentially prevents the cutworm from causing the maximum damage to the tobacco
crop. Field observations revealed that the seventh instar of this pest does more damage
to the tobacco crop than all the other instars combined (Cheng 1 9 7 3 ~ ) .The
Enicospilus sp. kills its host in the seventh instar or prepupal stage and it reduces some
losses caused by ,the cutworm. Contrarily, C . bakeri increases the crop losses by the
current generation. On this aspect, McMillan (1930) found that hosts attacked by
C . bakeri consumed 27.5% more food than did normal cutworms.
The rest of th~eparasites were present in small numbers or reared only once during
the period of this study, and it is likely that they are not important. However, until 'more
intensive studies cln the population dynamics of the darksided cutworm are carried out,
the key factors in generation survival of this pest remain unknown.

Acknowledgments
Thanks are expressed to J. J. Hanlon for his assistance. Special thanks are given
Messrs. H. E. Bisdee, M. Ivanochko, H. C . W. Walther, and Drs. C. C. Loan and
D. M. Wood, all of Biosystematics Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, for
the identification of the parasites observed during this study.
142 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST January 1977

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