Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2001) 98, 49-57

A.L. Joyce, M.S. Hoddle, T.S. Bellows and D. González (2001)
Oviposition behavior of Coccidoxenoides peregrinus, a parasitoid of Planococcus ficus
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 98 (1), 49-57
Abstract: The encyrtid parasitoid, Coccidoxenoides peregrinus has been used as a biological control agent against the mealybugs Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus. This study examined the behavior and host selection of C. peregrinus attacking P. ficus. Adult parasitoids were fed a 0.1% solution of acridine orange, a DNA binding dye used to label C. peregrinus eggs. In a choice test, adult parasitoids were offered equal numbers of first through fourth instars of P. ficus and behavior of C. peregrinus was filmed and analyzed. Acridine orange labeled ova of the parasitoids found within mealybug hosts fluoresced green under fluorescence microscopy and presence of fluorescing eggs in hosts was used to determine oviposition events. A time budget prepared for C. peregrinus indicated that this parasitoid spent the majority of its time searching (71.64%) and grooming (15.06%). The average probing duration over all instars which led to oviposition from single visits was 4.93±0.62 s. A total of 35.51% of probes from all attacks led to ovipositions, whereas 33.72% of single visits to hosts resulted in ovipositions. Detection of fluorescing acridine orange labeled eggs showed all instars of P. ficus were acceptable for oviposition by C. peregrinus. There was a significant preference to probe second, third, and fourth instars rather than first instars of P. ficus. Host feeding was not observed for this parasitoid.
(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): Andrea L. Joyce, Mark S. Hoddle

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.
	Planococcus ficus	Grapevine (Vitis)
Coccidoxenoides perminutus (parasitoid)	Planococcus ficus	Grapevine (Vitis)