Aspectos biológicos de Cirrospilus neotropicus Diez & Fidalgo (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), parasitóide de Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Abstract

-The biology of Cirrospilus neotropicus Diez & Fidalgo reared on third instar Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton larvae having Citrus limonia Osbeck as host plant, was evaluated under controlled conditions (25 ± 1ºC; 12h photophase). The survival, immatures development, longevity, sex ratio, host feeding and oviposition ratio of C. neotropicus, were registered. Two groups of parasitoid females were evaluated: one, with parasitoids obtained from P. citrella pupae collected in citrus orchards and the other group came from laboratory rearing. These females, after mating, were maintained individually on gerbox containers with honey and pollen as food source. At each 48h, 12 P. citrella larvae were changed. The average biological cycle of the female progenies from orchard and laboratory generation groups were 11.8 and 11.6 days, respectively. The males progenies had biological cycles of 11.6 and 10.9 days, as well. The shortest immature survival period, for both studied groups was the larval (57.3% -orchard group and 57.4% -lab group). The mated females average longevity (21.8 days) was superior than the non mated ones (9.1 days) for the orchard group. The average daily oviposition rate for this last group was also signifi cantly superior (2.8 eggs /day) than the lab group (1.6 eggs / day). The same trend was observed for the average daily host feeding rate (1.7 larvae /day for the orchard group and 0.9 larvae/ day for the lab group). These data suggest that C. neotropicus have potencial as a biological control agent of P. citrella.

Compared nymphal development of Tingis americana (Hemiptera, Tingidae) in two Handroanthus species (Bignoniaceae) and reproductive parameters in seedlings of Handroanthus heptaphyllus

“…Newly emerged nymphs were individualized in Petri dishes with a leaflet of H. heptaphyllus (n = 117 individuals) or H. chrysotrichus (n = 110) inserted in agar and water, plus antifungical (nipagin) and antimicrobian (streptomycin sulfate) (adapted from Foelckel et al, 2009). The dishes were kept under the same conditions as the colony.…”

Impact of natural control agents of the citrus leafminerPhyllocnistis citrellaon lemon trees varies among seasons

“…Unexplained mortality is frequently high on leafminers (e. g., Amalin et al, 2002;Lomeli-Flores et al, 2009) and may include bottom-up effects linked to host plant defences, but also diseases, some degree of inadequacy of the species to local environmental conditions, intraspecific competition, unsuccessful parasitism and also 'host-feeding' by parasitoids (Auerbach et al, 1995;Eber, 2004;Gripenberg & Roslin, 2008). Host-feeding behaviour could increase parasitoid impact on CLM populations (Zhang & Liu, 2008), and has actually been demonstrated for C. neotropicus in Brazil (Foelkel et al, 2009). Thus, the impact of parasitoids on CLM populations in NW Argentina might be higher than shown by our parasitism data, an interesting possibility that deserves further study.…”

“…When death cause was uncertain, CLM were classified as ‘dead by unknown causes’. Deaths caused by ‘host feeding’ were not identified and were possibly included within the last item, since this behaviour was at least proven for the native C. neotropicus (Foelkel et al , 2009). CLM immatures showing ongoing parasitism signs were isolated in hermetic bags (Ziploc ® Thai GRIPTECH, Bangkok 10150, Thailand) at 22 ± 4°C, to obtain parasitoid adults.…”

Natural Parasitism of the Citrus Leafminer (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Over Eight Years in Seven Citrus Regions of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Thus, an adequate availability of CLM hosts may lead to higher A. citricola parasitism rates (Jahnke et al 2006). Parasitism of early stages of CLM by A. citricola, i.e., of eggs and 1st instars (Edwards & Hoy 1998), may allow this parasitoid to occupy the niche before the native parasitoids, which parasitize only the final stages of the insect cycle (Foelkel et al 2008). No studies regarding CLM parasitoid competition in Brazil have been reported.…”

“…Lioni & Cividanes (2004) previously reported hyperparasitism of A. citricola pupae by G. fausta. Additionally, the predation of CLM larvae by feeding C. neotropicus adults has been shown in the laboratory, contributing to increased mortality (Foelkel et al 2008).…”