BioControl (2002) 47, 645-655

James H. Tsai and Jin-Jun Wang (2002)
Host age choice for parasitism by Lysiphlebia mirzai and its effect on the development and reproduction of brown citrus aphid
BioControl 47 (6), 645-655
Abstract: The effects of host age and parasitism by Lysiphlebia mirzai Shuja-Uddin (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the development, survivorship, reproduction, and life table parameters of brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were evaluated at 25 ± 1 °C, 80 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The results showed that the duration from initial parasitization to mummification was independent of the aphid age at the time of parasitization with a mean of 6.0 d. Aphids parasitized at the 1st and 2nd instar stages and 17% of those parasitized at the 3rd instar stage failed to reach adulthood, while the rest of the aphids parasitized at the 3rd and 4th instar stages and as adults reached maturity and produced a number of offspring that increased with age at parasitization. The longevity and fecundity of parasitized aphids were strongly correlated with the aphid age at parasitization. Aphids parasitized at the 1st and 2nd instar stages did not contribute to the population growth of the aphids. The net reproductive rate (R_o) of the aphids parasitized at the 3rd and 4th instar and adult stages were only 9, 20 and 43% of that for nonparasitized aphids, respectively. Host age preference experiments involving all five aphid stages showed L. mirzai could attack and parasitize all life stages of brown citrus aphid. Parasitism was highest in the 2nd instar in a no-choice test, while in a choice test parasitism in the 2nd and 3rd instars was similar. A relatively high rate of parasitism was also observed in the 1st instar nymphs in both choice and no-choice tests. The results suggest that L. mirzai has potential as a biocontrol agent of the brown citrus aphid and warrants a further evaluation.
(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): James H. Tsai, Jin-Jun Wang

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis citricidus
Lysiphlebia mirzai (parasitoid)	Aphis citricidus