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Host–parasitoid dynamics of Pieris brassicae and Cotesia vestalis: sustainable pest control in cruciferous crops

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2025

Sadia Maalik Open the ORCID record for Sadia Maalik [Opens in a new window] ,
Sajida Mushtaq ,
Naheed Bano ,
Moazama Batool ,
Nazia Ehsan ,
Ayesha Hafeez ,
Mehmooda Munazir ,
Tauseef Anwar Open the ORCID record for Tauseef Anwar [Opens in a new window] ,
Huma Qureshi  and
Muhammad Aqib Idrees
...Show all authors
Sadia Maalik*
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Government College Women University, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan
Sajida Mushtaq
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Government College Women University, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan
Naheed Bano
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Animal, Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Multan, 60800 Pakistan
Moazama Batool
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Government College Women University, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan
Nazia Ehsan
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Ayesha Hafeez
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Government College Women University, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan
Mehmooda Munazir
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Government College Women University 51310, Pakistan
Tauseef Anwar*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Faculty of Chemical and Biological Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
Huma Qureshi
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Chakwal 48800, Pakistan
Muhammad Aqib Idrees
Affiliation:
Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Wajid Zaman*
Affiliation:
Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Hameed Alsamadany
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Khalid H. Alamer
Affiliation:
Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
Nazih Y. Rebouh
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Management, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117198, Russia
Konul Ahmadova
Affiliation:
Department of Life Sciences, Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan
*
Corresponding authors: Tauseef Anwar; Email: tauseef.anwar@iub.edu.pk; Sadia Maalik; Email: sadia.maalik@gcwus.edu.pk; Wajid Zaman; Email: wajidzaman@yu.ac.kr
Corresponding authors: Tauseef Anwar; Email: tauseef.anwar@iub.edu.pk; Sadia Maalik; Email: sadia.maalik@gcwus.edu.pk; Wajid Zaman; Email: wajidzaman@yu.ac.kr
Corresponding authors: Tauseef Anwar; Email: tauseef.anwar@iub.edu.pk; Sadia Maalik; Email: sadia.maalik@gcwus.edu.pk; Wajid Zaman; Email: wajidzaman@yu.ac.kr
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Abstract

Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), commonly known as the cabbage butterfly, is a major herbivorous pest causing significant damage to Brassica crops, which are widely cultivated for edible parts and economic uses such as oilseed production. Conventional chemical-based pest control methods pose risks to environmental and human health, prompting interest in sustainable alternatives like biological control using parasitoids. This study evaluated crop damage by P. brassicae larvae and the potential of the larval parasitoid Cotesia vestalis (Haliday, 1834) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in managing pest populations. Larvae and fertilized eggs of P. brassicae were collected and reared on four host diets (cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, and generic brassica) under controlled laboratory conditions. Larval growth, feeding behavior, and development were assessed, along with a feeding index for dietary efficiency. Parasitisation was introduced by exposing larvae to adult C. vestalis, and host-parasitoid interactions were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and regression models. Results revealed that larvae had the highest feeding preference and weight gain on brassica, while turnip-fed larvae consumed the least. Parasitisation by C. vestalis significantly suppressed larval development, with a strong correlation between parasitisation rates and reduced host fitness. These findings highlight C. vestalis as a promising biological control agent for P. brassicae, offering an effective and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Further research should focus on optimizing C. vestalis mass-rearing protocols and release strategies tailored to diverse Brassica cropping systems to promote sustainable pest management.

Keywords

biological controlBrassica cropsenvironmental impacthost–parasitoid interactionspest resistance

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Type
Research Paper
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Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 9
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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