Establishment of Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) for Biological Control of Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) In Florida

Authors

  • Mark A. Pomerinke
  • Philip A. Stansly

Abstract

The parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), originally from Thailand and obtained from Australia, was released at 52 sites in Southwest Florida between May 1994 and September 1995 as part of a statewide program of biological control of citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Establishment and over-wintering was confirmed during spring of 1995 and 1996 in spite of frosts experienced during the previous winters. Parasitism from A. citricola at monitored groves increased from 2% in May 1994 to 86% in October 1995, apparently unhindered by native parasitoids. In contrast, apparent parasitism of citrus leafminer from endemic parasitoids fell from 30% to 2% during the same period. Wind-aided dispersal of A. citricola occurred in all directions and was documented to a maximum of 48 km from the nearest release point. A. citricola is now ubiquitous throughout the region and will probably remain a permanent component of the entomophagous complex using citrus leafminer.

Downloads

Published

1998-09-01

Issue

Vol. 81, No. 3 (September 1998)

Section

Literature Review Articles

License

Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.