Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 89-95

Alejandro Tena, Eliana Nieves, Julieta Herrero and Alberto Urbaneja (2018)
Defensive behaviors of the new mealybug citrus pest, Delottococcus aberiae (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), against three generalist parasitoids
Journal of Economic Entomology 111 (1), 89-95
Abstract: Delottococcus aberiae De Lotto (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an invasive mealybug that has become a citrus pest in Europe. This mealybug species causes serious damage because it deforms the fruits. Here, we studied the defensive behavior of D. aberiae when it was attacked by three parasitoid species: Acerophagus angustifrons (Gahan), Anagyrus sp. near pseudoccoci (Girault), and Leptomastix algirica Trjapitzin (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Anagyrus sp. near pseudoccoci and L. algirica detected and accepted nymphs and adult females of D. aberiae, whereas A. angustifrons only accepted adults. We recorded four defensive responses of D. aberiae to parasitoid attacks: abdominal flipping, swiveling around the inserted stylet, withdrawing the stylet and walking away, and, occasionally, they secreted ostiolar fluids. Despite these defensive behaviors, the mealybug did not escape parasitism from any of the tested parasitoids, even though A. angustifrons needed more than 15 min to parasitize. We also analyzed the nutritional value of the honeydew excreted by D. aberiae for A. angustifrons and A. sp. near pseudococci. Females and males of these parasitoids lived more than 28 d when fed sucrose, but they lived fewer than 3 d when fed D. aberiae honeydew. Therefore, D. aberiae excretes honeydew of poor quality for parasitoids. The consequences of these biological traits of D. aberiae for its biological control are discussed.
(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): Alejandro Tena, Alberto Urbaneja

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Delottococcus aberiae	Citrus (genus)
Leptomastix algirica (parasitoid)	Delottococcus aberiae	Citrus (genus)
Acerophagus angustifrons (parasitoid)	Delottococcus aberiae	Citrus (genus)