Leptomastix (genus - parasitoids)

Encyrtidae • Chalcidoidea (parasitoids) • Hymenoptera parasitoids • Beneficials/natural enemies

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Planococcus citri mealybug parasitized by Leptomastix dactylopii (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Leptomastix Förster, 1856

This genus contains more than 30 species of encyrtid wasps which are solitary endoparasitoids of mealybugs, e.g. Leptomastix dactylopii is an important parasitoid of Planococcus citri. Most of the species of Leptomastix are found in Europe, Asia and Africa. The adult wasps are yellowish, brownish or black and typically around 2 mm long.

Currently, the following species have been entered into the system:

• Leptomastix dactylopii (parasitoid)
• Leptomastix epona (parasitoid)