Population dynamics of the Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and its parasitoids in Tafi Viejo, Tucumán, Argentina

DIEZ, P.A., J. PEÑA AND P. FIDALGO

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2006 vol. 89 p. 293 - 430

0015-4040

Seasonal abundance of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was investigated between November 1999 and April 2003 in Tafí Viejo (Tucuman province). P. citrella populations increased during spring and summer, declined during fall, and disappeared in the winter. Five species of parasitoids, one exotic and four indigenous, attacked citrus leafminer immature stages in commercial and experimental lemon orchards. Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was the most abundant parasitoid. Cirrospilus neotropicus Diez & Fidalgo (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was the most abundant indigenous species, followed by Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The other indigenous species were not very common and only occasionally were collected from citrus leafminer larvae. Parasitoids and P. citrella exhibited similar population fluctuations throughout the entire sampling period. To infer that a certain degree of synchrony exists between the most abundant the populations parasitoids (A. citricola, C. neotropicus, and G. fausta), and those of the pest. The highest rates of parasitism were observed in the fall. Ageniaspis citricola exhibited approximately 29.5% parasitism, whereas all the native species together showed a value of only 8.2%. Data showed that a clear dependence existed between percentages of parasitism and citrus leafminer population density for the most frequent parasitoid populations The results of this study show that C. neotropicus has an important role among the native species present in Argentina.