First Report of Billaea (Paratheresia) claripalpis Wulp1 as a Parasitoid of Diatraea considerata Heinrich2 at Nayarit, Mexico

The stalk borer Diatraea considerata Heinrich, 1931 is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Mexico, causing losses of 50% of yield. During the larval stage, the species naturally is attacked by parasitoid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae). In this study, Billaea (Paratheresia) claripalpis (Wulp, 1896) was determined as a solitary endoparasitoid of D. considerata in sugarcane, with 0.83% natural parasitism. This is the first record of B. claripalpis at Nayarit. The parasitoid should be distributed and used in an augmentative strategy for biological control of the stalkborer in Mexico.