Phytoparasitica (2010) 38, 121-123

G.O. Japoshvili, G.J. Stathas and S.G. Kampouris (2010)
Natural enemies of Diaspis echinocacti in Greece and first records of Aphytis debachi and Plagiomerus diaspidis
Phytoparasitica 38 (2), 121-123
Abstract: Two hymenopteran parasitoids of the cactus scale Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) are recorded in Greece. Aphytis debachi Azim, 1963 (Aphelinidae) is first recorded for Europe and Plagiomerus diaspidis Crawford, 1910 (Encyrtidae) is first recorded for Greece. Preliminary data on phenology and natural enemies of the scale D. echinocacti on O. ficus-indica are presented. Parasitism of D. echinocacti by P. diaspidis reached 86% in southern Greece (Kalamata) and parasitism by A. debachi reached 9.3% and 12% in Kalamata and Athens, respectively. Two predators, Cybocephalus fodori Endrödy-Youga (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and a mite species (Prostigmata: Bdellidae), were found to be associated with D. echinocacti.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): George Japoshvili

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Greece
Cybocephalus fodori (predator)	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Greece
Plagiomerus diaspidis (parasitoid)	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Greece
Aphytis debachi (parasitoid)	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Greece