Florida Entomologist (2001) 84, 112-116

L.A. Sagarra, C. Vincent and R.K. Stewart (2001)
Suitability of nine mealybug species (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) as hosts for the Parasitoid Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)
Florida Entomologist 84 (1), 112-116
Abstract: The parasitoid Anagyrus kamali Moursi [Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae] has been recently introduced into the Caribbean as a biological control agent against the Hibiscus Mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Homoptera: Pseudococcidae]. In order to understand host/ parasitoid ecological interactions and optimize the mass-production system of this parasitoid, eight mealybug species (Planococcus citri (Risso), Planococcus halli Ezzat and McConnel, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius, Saccharococcus sacchari (Cockerell), Puto barberii (Cockerell), Nipaecoccus nipae (Newstead), Plotococcus neotropicus (Williams and Granara de Willink)) common to Trinidad were tested to determine their potential as alternative hosts for the parasitoid. Susceptibility, preference and suitability tests were conducted. In addition to M. hirsutus (4.5 ± 2.04 hosts parasitized per female parasitoid in 30 min), Planococcus citri (1.1 ± 1.23 hosts parasitized) and Planoccocus halli (0.8 ± 1.41 hosts parasitized) were the only species parasitized. However, the parasitoid did not complete its development in the latter two hosts. Out of nine mealybug species, M. hirsutus was the only suitable host for the complete development of A. kamali progeny. This level of host specificity by A. kamali may prevent adverse effect to other Caribbean mealybug species.

El parasitoido Anagyrus kamali Moursi [Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae] fue introducido en el Caribe para el control biologico de la cochinilla rosada, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Homoptera: Pseudococcidae]. Para mejorar nuestro conocimiento del systema plaga/parasitoido y optimizar la produccion del parasitoido, ocho especies de cochinillas (Planococcus citri (Risso), Planococcus halli Ezzat and McConnel, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius, Saccharococcus sacchari (Cockerell), Puto barberii (Cockerell), Nipaecoccus nipae (Newstead), Plotococcus neotropicus (Williams and Granara de Willink)) de Trinidad fueron probadas para determinar sus potencial como hospedantes alternativos del parasitoido. M. hirsutus (4.5 ± 2.04 hospedantes parasitados por parasitoido en 30 min), Planococcus citri (1.1 ± 1.23 hospedantes parasitados) y Planoccocus halli (0.8 ± 1.41 hospedantes parasitados) fueron las unicas especies parasitadas, sin embargo, el parasitoido nunca completo su desarrollo en las dos ultimas especies. M. hirsutus fue la unica especies en la cual el parasitoido pudiera completar su desarrollo. Por eso, la introduccion de A. kamali en el Caribe no deberia afectar la biodiversidad locale.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Charles Vincent

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.
	Maconellicoccus hirsutus		Trinidad and Tobago
Anagyrus kamali (parasitoid)	Maconellicoccus hirsutus		Trinidad and Tobago