To further the use of local parasitoids to control the spotted wing drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) in Mexico, three treatments were implemented by sextuplicate in commercial berry fields of Colima and Jalisco from June 2017 to May 2018: single release of Trichopria drosophilae Perkins (pupal parasitoid), combined release of T. drosophilae + Leptopilina boulardi Barbotin, Carton & Kelner-Pillault (larval parasitoid), and a no release control. Compared with the no release sites, parasitism by T. drosophilae increased 4 and 4.1-fold at the single and combined release sites, respectively, and parasitism of L. boulardi increased 2.8-fold at the sites where it was evaluated. Additionally, it was registered a 50 and 55% reduction of D. suzukii at the sites with single and combined releases, respectively; in other words, supplementing T. drosophilae with L. boulardi provided little benefit compared with the release of T. drosophilae alone. These results indicate that single release of local T. drosophilae is a more cost-effective option to reduce D. suzukii populations, and that such activity can contribute significantly to the phytosanitary management of this invasive pest.

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By April 2016, 22 out of the 24 citrus-producing states in Mexico had confirmed the presence of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (C. Las) in citrus trees and in the vector Diaphorina citri. The dissemination of C. Las in space and time is the result of a complex interaction between the host, the associated pathogen, the vector and the environment. During 22 months (July 2012-April 2014), the seasonal variation of C. Las in D. citri populations was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in lime orchards at six locations in two municipalities in the state of Colima, Mexico. Results showed that the proportion of positive psyllids was very high throughout the year (overall incidence of 58.2%) with seasonal variability in the proportion of positive adults, whereby winter and spring have the highest levels. These periods mark the cooccurrence of a high density of potentially infective psyllids on a susceptible host with continual generation of new shoots, and optimal environmental conditions in the Pacific region.

Four local parasitoids of spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), were collected in Mexico in 2013–2015. To increase insectary production of the fly for mass rearing of its parasitoids, a wheat germ diet that uses low‐cost ingredients was optimized through the orthogonal array L9 (34, i.e., four controllable factors with three levels each) (Taguchi method). The resulting optimized diet consisted of 12 ml ethyl alcohol, 36 g maize flour, 45 g table sugar, and 42 g brewer's yeast. Confirmation tests indicated that this diet produced 33.9, 87.0, and 78.6% more larvae, pupae, and adults, respectively, than the old version (non‐optimized wheat germ recipe) but there were no statistical differences in sex ratio, hind tibia length of females, and developmental time from egg to adult. Additionally, the optimized diet had a similar performance in most of the evaluated parameters (same as in the confirmation tests) compared to banana, the current host of the D. suzukii colony. These results indicate that an improved wheat germ diet is available to rear this fly, which will facilitate the rearing of its local parasitoids.

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RESUMENDiaphorina citri Kuwayama es considerada la plaga más importante de los cítricos por transmitir la bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., causante de la muerte de millones de árboles en el mundo. Para recomendar al depredador Ceraeochrysa valida (Banks) en el control de este insecto se realizaron cuatro ensayos: 1) distribución y presencia de C. valida en huertas de limón en el estado de Colima; 2) máxima capacidad de depredación de C. valida sobre ninfas de D. citri bajo condiciones controladas; 3) tablas de vida de D. citri con la liberación de C. valida en condiciones naturales; y 4) depredación en campo de C. valida sobre D. citri. Los resultados fueron: Ceraeochrysa valida se presentó en todas las huertas evaluadas durante los doce meses del año. El máximo consumo promedio en laboratorio fue 258,26 ± 3,80 ninfas. La liberación de 20 larvas en campo dio una mortalidad de 160,29 ± 26,32 ninfas de D. citri contra 27,33 ± 3,39 sin liberación (F = 11,98, Pr > 0,0134). La mortalidad real de huevo y ninfa fue mayor con liberación de C. valida (0,9768; 0,8482; 1,0000; 0,9922) que sin liberación (0,8481; 0,4467; 1; 0,8032). El estimativo R o estuvo por debajo de la unidad con liberación (0,1628; 0,5893; 0,000; 0,4870) y cerca de la unidad o arriba de ella sin liberación (0,7278; 1,1733; 0,1231; 1,0787). De acuerdo a los resultados C. valida podría ser considerado en el control biológico de D. citri.Palabras clave: Control biológico, psílido asiático de los cítricos, tablas de vida, Huanglongbing (HLB), depredador. ABSTRACT Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is considered the most important pest of citrus since it transmits the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter spp., causing the death of millions of citrus trees all over the world. This research studied the ability of Ceraeochrysa valida (Banks) as a biological control agent against D. citri. The study was conducted under field and laboratory conditions, considering four Palomares-Pérez M. et al. Capacidad depredadora de Ceraeochrysa valida sobre Diaphorina citri different criteria: 1) distribution and presence of C. valida in lemon orchards in the state of Colima, 2) maximum predation of C. valida on D. citri nymphs under laboratory conditions, 3) life tables of D. citri with release of C. valida under field conditions, and 4) predation of C. valida on D. citri in the field. The results showed that Ceraeochrysa valida was present in the orchards evaluated throughout the year. The average amount of D. citri nymphs consumed by C. valida under laboratory condition was 258.26 ± 3.80. The release of 20 larvae of C. valida in the field produced an average mortality of 160.29 ± 26.32 nymphs of D. citri against 27.33 ± 3.39 without release (F = 11.98, Pr > F = 0.0134). The analysis of life tables for the months of December, January, February and March showed that egg and nymph mortality was higher in treatments in which C. valida was released (0.9768; 0.8482; 1; 0.9922) compared to those in which no release occurred (0.8481; 0.4467; 1; 0.8032). R o reached values lower than ...