BioControl (2018) 63, 763-771

Marco Gebiola, Francesc Gomez-Marco, Gregory S. Simmons and Richard Stouthamer (2018)
Effect of host feeding on life history traits of Tamarixia radiata, parasitoid of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri
BioControl 63 (6), 763-771
Abstract: The parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is being used for the biological control of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). The parasitoid is strongly synovigenic, as it is born with very few mature eggs. Synovigenic insects need to feed on host haemolymph to mature additional eggs, and are able to resorb mature eggs to allocate resources toward maintenance. We investigated the effect of host feeding on parasitism, longevity and egg load dynamics, and estimated egg maturation and resorption rates. Although host feeding does not increase survival or longevity, it results in increased parasitization rates when parasitoids are seven days old, and that a single host meal leads to an average gain of three eggs. We discuss the importance of these data to predict the foraging and parasitization behavior of T. radiata in the field, and to potentially improve current efforts to control ACP.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Richard Stouthamer

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diaphorina citri
Tamarixia radiata (parasitoid)	Diaphorina citri