Gypsy moth parasitoids in the declining outbreak in Lithuania

A 3 year study was conducted on the parasitoids of gypsy moth larvae in two reducing outbreak areas in Lithuania. Overall parasitism of 25.0 +/- 2.0% in the first pout-culmination year was significantly lower than the 36.3 +/ - 1.4 and 35.2 +/- 1.4% parasitism in the two subsequent years. When analys ed in terms of the life stage at which the host was collected, the total pa rasitism over 3 years was constantly increasing from 3.1 +/- 0.8 in the fir st to 72.5 +/- 2.9% in the sixth instar. Parasetigena silvestris R.-D. domi nated causing 48.7 +/- 1.5% parasitism and 16.7 +/- 0.6% larval mortality p referably in late instars. Phobocampe disparis Vier. contributed to 21.9 +/ - 1.2% parasitism and 7.5 +/- 0.5%, mortality recovering from early instar larvae. Meteorus pulchricornis Wes. parasitized 4.3 +/- 0.6% gypsy moth lar vae causing 1.5 +/- 0.2% mortality and a few Apanteles species provided 7.8 +/- 0.6% parasitism and 1.0 +/- 0.2% mortality. The gypsy moth in Lithuani a was reported to act as host for Rogas sp. (Hym. Braconidae) and Siphona b oreata Mes. (Dipt., Tachinidae).