Estimating parasitism levels inLygusspp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) field populations using standard and molecular techniques

Host dissection, host rearing and PCR analysis were used to estimate parasitism level and identify the parasitoid complex in Lygus spp. populations in alfalfa. Parasitism level estimates by PCR were higher than by other methods. The PCR results from all samples tested with available primers were consistent with Peristenus pallipes, although the parasitoid was identified as Peristenus near mellipes by morphological characters.