The prevalence of the hyperparasites, which parasitize other parasites, were among a few surprise findings for Rendon and her colleagues during their yearlong study of the ecology of trechnites, a parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs in psylla nymphs. “The plot now thickens because the enemy of the enemy of your enemy is your enemy,” said Dalila Rendon, an Oregon State University entomologist studying several aspects of Trechnites insidiosus, a beneficial insect, usually called trechnites, that growers hope could become part of IPM strategies to control pear psylla, a pest that grows more troublesome each year. Turns out, there are hyperparasitic wasps attacking the trechnites, a parasitic wasp lauded for killing the dreaded pear psylla. The enemy of your enemy may be your friend, but what about all the other layers of enemies? Oregon State University entomologist Dalila Rendon searches for trechnites and pear psylla mummies - psylla that have been parasitized by the beneficial wasps - in pear orchards in May 2018 in O’Dell, Oregon.
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