Natural parasitism of the citrus leafminer (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) over eight years in seven citrus regions of São Paulo, Brazil
Keywords:
biological control, Ageniaspis citricola, Phyllocnistis citrella, insecticide, HLB managementAbstract
The citrus leafminer (CLM) Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) was first recorded in Brazil in 1996. In 1998, the parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was introduced and established in many regions of the country. In this study, 130 one-hour-samplings of sweet orange leaves (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) hosting CLM pupal chambers were carried out to estimate the CLM parasitism rate (%) by its parasitoids in 7 regions of São Paulo State between 2000 and 2008. The sample sizes varied from 10 to 275 leaves (mean = 65). The most abundant parasitoid was the encyrtid A. citricola (found in 91.8% of the samplings). The highest level of CLM parasitism by A. citricola was recorded in the southern region (Botucatu), 70.2 ± 6.6 (mean ± SEM), and the lowest level was recorded in the northern region (Barretos), 12.8 ± 5.7%. CLM parasitism by A. citricola and by native parasitoids (Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle, Cirrospilus spp. and Elasmus sp.) did not differ between seasons. The 6-fold increase in the use of insecticides in citrus groves, after 2004 when the Huanglongbing (HLB) disease was found in São Paulo State, did not reduce the level of CLM parasitism. The level of parasitism was 50.8 ± 4.2% before the advent of HLB (2000–2004) and 56.0 ± 4.4% thereafter (2005–2008), indicating adaptation of A. citricola in a disturbed agroecosystem.
Resumo
A minadora das folhas dos citros (MFC), Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), foi encontrada pela primeira vez no Brasil em 1996. Em 1998, o parasitoide Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) foi introduzido e se estabeleceu em várias regiões do país. Nesse estudo, foram feitas130 amostragens, de uma hora, de folhas de laranjeiras doces [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] com câmaras pupais da MFC, para se estimar o parasitismo da MFC em 7 regiões do estado de São Paulo, entre 2000 e 2008. O tamanho das amostras variou de 10 a 275 folhas (média = 65). O parasitoide mais abundante foi o encirtídeo A. citricola (encontrado em 91.8% das amostragens). O maior parasitismo da MFC por A. citricola foi observado na região sul do estado (Botucatu), 70,2 ± 6,6 (média ± EPM), e o menor parasitismo na região norte (Barretos), 12,8 ± 5,7%. O parasitismo da MFC por A. citricola e seus parasitoides nativos (Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle, Cirrospilus spp. and Elasmus sp.) não diferiram entre as estações do ano. O aumento de seis vezes no uso de inseticidas nos pomares de citros, após 2004, quando o Huanglongbing (HLB) foi encontrado no estado de São Paulo, não reduziu o nível de parasitismo da MFC. O nível médio de parasitismo foi de 50,8 ± 4,2%, antes do HLB (2000-2004), e 56,0 ± 4,4%, após o HLB (2005-2008), indicando a adaptação de A. citricola a um agroecossistema perturbado.
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