Preliminary evaluation of Ageniaspis citricola (Hym.: Encyrtidae) attacking Phyllocnistis citrella (Citrus leafminer) in Argentina

DIEZ, P.A., E. FRÍAS, N. OVRUSKI AND P. FIDALGO

Brasil

Congreso; XXI Congreso Internacional de Entomología y XVIII Congreso Brasileño de Entomología; 2000

Between 1995 and 1996 Phyllocnistis citrella (Citrus leafminer CLM), was registered in Northwestern Argentina. Very rapidly it was widespread in all citrus areas of the country. In 1998 Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya, a specific parasitoid of CLM, was introduced and released in Argentina. Probably due to a fortuitous introduction, it had been recorded the previous year. A. citricola disperses slowly than the pest; therefore it has not been found in several areas yet. The aim of the present paper is to know the presence of A. citricola and the level of total parasitism. Samples in citrus orchards north to 32º parallel were taken periodically. In each of the areas affected by the pest, 300 to 1.500 leaf were taken and observed at the laboratory afterwards. When A. citricola was lacking, the percentages of the indigenous parasitoids varied between 0% and 18%. When A. citricola was present, total parasitism varied between 31% and 66.2%. The result suggest that the total level of parasitism increased with a presence of A. citricola into the monitored areas. The indigenous parasitoids were Cirrospilus sp., Elasmus sp. and Galeopsomyia fausta. Their individual number chaing in different sampling region. These results have been explained by the diversity of abiotic and biotic factors, characteristic of each area.