Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a serious pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants in the fields from warm temperate to tropical climates, and tubers stored under ambient temperatures post-harvest. In recent years, concerns on PTM occurrence and damage to potato are increasing due to climate change resulted in global warming. To search potent natural enemies of PTM, we collected >150 PTM larvae from potato fields in Jeju-do in May, 2009 and then reared in the room until wasp adults emerging, which was identified by Lee J.W. as Diadegma fenestrale (tentative Korean name, 감자뿔나방맵시벌). This is the first report in Korea. When supplied 10% sugar solution on adults to rear, the longevity was 12.2±2.0 day, which was much longer than supplied with only water (5.0±1.4 day) or none (3.1±1.1 day). When the 2nd larvae of PTM, 10 days after hatch, dwelled in potato tubers were supplied to parasitoid adults for parasitization, the developmental periods from egg oviposition to adult emergence was 24.0±2.9 day, and the sex ratio of newly emerged adults was 0.27. The parasitization ratio indoor showed a kaleidoscopic characteristics, ranged from 30.0% to 71.4%. It represented that many factors might be related for the successful parasitization to PTM larvae.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) has been a destructive pest on potato in the fields and strores through tropical to subtropical area. According to global warming, PTM distribution limit in Korea is facing north gradually. Recently, potato fields damaged by PTM are reported intermittently in the midsection of a country and southward. To secure a sufficient number of insect with equal growth stage is a prerequisite for investigating bionomics and developing new agrochemicals to control pests. In 2009, we collected PTM larvae first from the potato fields in Miryang and Gimcheon, and then placed them into transparent hexagonal rearing cage (30×30×30cm) with providing potato tubers as a food till emergence. A transparent cylindrical rearing cage (Φ15×30cm) erected vertically before putting emerged adults, and covered upper opening with net (50 mesh). To get eggs, we placed a filter paper (Φ11cm, called ‘oviposition paper’) on the net and sprinkled sugar solution. The oviposition paper laid eggs was stored in 10℃ refrigerator and changed with new one every 1~2 day interval. The developmental period of eggs to hatch was 5.2±0.7 days at 23±2℃, L16/D8 condition. Although adults laid eggs continuously for two weeks, second to fifth days after emergence showed highest oviposition, which suggested the most efficient periods for collecting sufficient eggs. A hatchability of eggs laid within 10 days after emergence was over 90%.