BioControl (2000) 45, 1-10

Yael Argov, Yoram Rössler, Hillary Voet and David Rosen (2000)
Introducing Encarsia lahorensis against Dialeurodes citri in Israel: a case of successful biological control
BioControl 45 (1), 1-10
Abstract: The parasitoid Encarsia lahorensis has been present in Israel sinceits import in 1980 for biological control of Dialeurodes citri, a serious pest ofcitrus. The larvae of D. citri secrete honeydew,which is colonized by sooty mould fungi, leading toaesthetic impairment of the fruit as well as leaf dropand yield loss. In a process which took about 3years, the parasitoid reduced the pest to low levelsand maintained the population beneath the economicdamage threshold for several years. This study,carried out in a citrus orchard during the years1987-1991, was intended to demonstrate the existenceof efficient biological control by comparing the pestpopulations before and after the unhinderedintroduction of the natural enemy to a new region. Inthe course of two years, the pest population decreasedfrom a peak level of 122 eggs to 2-7 per half-leaf.Concurrently, the population of the vulnerable fourthnymphal instar decreased from a maximum of 12 to 3 perhalf-leaf. Thereafter, D. citri was maintained atthis low level, with peaks of parasitism ranging from20 to 50%. It was concluded that D. citri isunder successful biological control in Israel by thespecific parasitoid E. lahorensis.
(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): Yael Argov, Yoram Rössler

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
new introduction of pest
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
classical biocontrol/new introduction

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dialeurodes citri	Citrus (genus)	Israel
Encarsia lahorensis (parasitoid)	Dialeurodes citri	Citrus (genus)	Israel