INSECT PARASITES OF THE DIAMONDBACK MOTH Plutella xylostella (L.) AND SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN PARASITISM AT THREE LOCATIONS IN JAMAICA

Two species of parasites of Plutella xvlostella (L.) were recorded in Jamaica, and indeed in the Caribbean, for the first time. These are: a new species of the larval parasites Diadeoma {Ichneumonidae) and the larval and pupal parasite, Tetrastichus Bokolowskii Kurdjumov. A new species of a hyperparasite of Diadeoma, Spilochalcis sp. was also recorded. The Incidence of parasitism by these hymenopterans has been fairly high throughout the study period of 1986-1988 in three cabbage growing areas of Jamaica, in spite of heavy uses of insecticides on weekly or twice-weekly basis. The monthly mean levels of parasitism (with ± 95 percent C.L.) in Douglas Castle between March 1986 and July 1987, was 32.8 ± 8 percent, and in Guys Hill, it was 16 ± 10 percent between August 1987 and August 1988