Effect of airplane applications of abamectine on Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoid of citrus leafminer, in Tucumán, Argentina

GOANE, L.; SALAS, H.; CASMUZ, A.; WILLINK, E.

Wuhan, China

Congreso; 11th International Citrus Congress; 2008

The Chinese Society of Citriculture

The foreign parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola is one of the most important biological tools used to control citrus leafminer in the main citrus producing areas of Argentina. However, chemical control is still the alternative most widely resorted by growers. In Tucumán province (Northwestern of Argentina), airplane sprays of abamectin mixed with mineral oil have become generalized in recent years to control citrus leafminer populations as part of a management program which includes periodic samplings of the pest and its parasitoid A. citricola. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of abamectin airplane applications on A. citricola parasitism on citrus leafminer populations. Citrus leafminer pupal chambers were examined and the parasitism percentages in lemon orchards treated with abamectin airplane applications were compared with those obtained in orchards without citrus leafminer control. Percentage of leaves infested by P. citrella was also considered. The test was carried out in two different areas (north and south of Tucumán province) and three replicates were considered per treatment in each one of them. Test T was used to compare citrus leafminer infestation and parasitism by A. citricola in treated and untreated orchards. Results from fortnightly samplings performed during spring and summer of four citrus cropping seasons, showed that A. citricola parasitism on P. citrella was lower in orchards managed under airplane abamectin sprays. However, differences were significant only in a few sampling dates and some of these significant differences might not be attributed to abamectin applications performed in northern and southern areas of the province.