Suppression ofbactra venosana, a potential natural enemy ofcyperus rotundus, bytrichogrammatoidea bactrae in Bangalore, India

Bactra venosana Zeller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the predominant natural enemy ofCyperus rotundas L. in Bangalore, India. Although the insect was found to have potential, it was incapable of suppressing the weed due to low incidence. Laboratory studies involving field-collected insect stages revealed that heavy parasitism of eggs byTrichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was the most important mortality factor suppressing its potentiality.