Oviposition behavior and development of immature stages ofParasierola swirskiana, a parasitoid of the lesser date mothBatrachedra amydraula

Parasierola swirskiana Argaman (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is a parasitoid of the mothBatrachedra amydraula Meyrick, a pest of unripe fruits of the date palm,Phoenix dactylifera L. The parasitoid is most commonly found in the field on second-generation host ,larvae. Its biological characteristics were studied in the laboratory. Adult longevity averaged 34.9 and 20.5 days for females and males, respectively. Clutch size ranged between 1 and 13 eggs per host, and was positively correlated with host weight. Females laid an average of 60.4 eggs on 11.6 hosts, with a maximum of 152 eggs on 29 hosts in 53 days. Parasitoids were observed standing motionless upon 52% of the paralyzed hosts, and active brood defense was occasionally observed. Immature development is described. Total development time from egg to adult averaged 13.6 days at 26 ± 2°C and 30-50% r.h. The potential for utilizingP. swirskiana for biological control ofB. amydraula is discussed.     

Note: Tachinid parasitoids (Diptera: Tachinidae) of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi</Emphasis> in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi (Duponchel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a serious pest of gramineous crops and reduces yields in maize plantations. This study was undertaken to determine the tachinid parasitoid complex ofM. loreyi in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey. Four tachinid species were found:Pseudogonia rufifrons (Wiedemann),Exorista larvarum (Linnaeus),Drino imberbis (Wiedemann) andLinnaemya neavei Curran were reared from field-collectedM. loreyi larvae. Of the four tachinid speciesM. loreyi is a new host record forE. larvarum andD. imberbis. L. neavei was recorded for the first time in Turkey and was the most frequently encountered parasitoid in this study. Total parasitism level was 7.1% in 2003 and 15.5% in 2004. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 16, 2007.     

Effect of different hosts onThaumetopoea pityocampa populations in northeast Portugal

A study was carried out at the Natural Park of Montesinho, NE Portugal, in order to evaluate the effect of different pine species (Pinus pinaster Ait.,P. nigra Arn. andP. sylvestris L.) onThaumetopoea pityocampa populations. The structure of the egg batches, the impact of the egg parasitoids on natural mortality of the pest and the species of parasitoids present, as well as their emergence dynamics, were analyzed. The length of the egg batches varied among pine species with the longest ones onP. nigra. The mean number of eggs per batch differed betweenP. sylvestris and the two other hosts studied, with fewer eggs per batch on the first. No differences were found in the size of eggs among pine species. The egg mortality varied between 25.8% and 33.0%, with no differences among hosts. Parasitism was the main cause of death.Baryscapus servadeii (Mercet.) was the most abundant parasitoid species, followed byOoencyrtus pityocampae (Dom.) andTrichogramma embryophagum Htg.B. servadeii dominated in the egg batches collected fromP. pinaster andP. nigra, whereasO. pityocampae was most frequent onP. sylvestris. The emergence ofB. servadeii started in the middle of March and continued until August, with the emergence peak at the end of May. The emergence ofO. pityocampae started at the end of April and continued throughout September, with maximum values in June. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 20, 2006.     

Effect of host diet on the development of the solitary egg-larval parasitoidChelonus oculator in superparasitizedEphestia kuehniella

Effect of host diet on the development time, mortality and adult size of the solitary koinobiont egg-larval parasitoidChelonus oculator (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was examined in superparasitizedEphestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The experiment at a tritrophic level was conducted at 25±1°C, 60–70% relative humidity. Eggs ofE. kuehniella were parasitized one, two and three times by the parasitoid, and the hosts containing different numbers of parasitoid eggs were reared in two different host diets. As host diets, a 2:1 mixture of wheat flour and rough wheat bran (HD1) and a 2:1:0.25:0.50:0.25:0.25 mixture of rough wheat bran, corn flour, dry yeast, honey, milk powder, glycerin (HD2) were used. Unlike in the HD1 treatment, development times of the parasitoid were significantly affected by the number of eggs per host in the HD2 treatment. In addition, all development times of the parasitoid in the HD2 treatment were found to be significantly shorter than those of the parasitoid in the HD1 treatment. The mortality of the parasitoid was similar on both host diets, regardless of the number of eggs per host. However, superparasitism decreased the parasitoid eclosion in both host diet treatments. As well as mortality, when the size of the adult parasitoid was not affected by the host diet differences with the same number of eggs per host, superparasitism significantly decreased the size of the parasitoid in both host diet treatments. The findings of this investigation confirm that there is a significant interaction between host diet and the third trophic level, the parasitoid. Thus, effects of host diets at tritrophic levels should be incorporated into models of superparasitism. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 22, 2006.     

适度饥饿浅黄恩蚜小蜂对烟粉虱和温室白粉虱的寄生和取食选择

为评价释放前经历饥饿对浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia(GiraultDodd)寄生取食粉虱能力的影响,以3龄Q隐种烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci Q和温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum若虫为寄主,在2种粉虱单独或同时存在的情况下,比较释放前经适度饥饿、初羽化未饥饿和初羽化喂饲蜂蜜水3种处理的浅黄恩蚜小蜂对2种粉虱寄主的寄生和取食选择情况。结果表明,在2种粉虱单独存在时,经适度饥饿6 h的浅黄恩蚜小蜂寄生的烟粉虱和温室白粉虱显著多于其它处理,而且能取食更多的温室白粉虱,经适度饥饿的寄生蜂在24 h内通过寄生和取食杀死烟粉虱和温室白粉虱的总量分别为12.5头和12.9头。在2种粉虱同时存在时,适度饥饿寄生蜂取食2种粉虱的总量明显高于其它处理,但不同处理间无显著差异,适度饥饿寄生蜂通过寄生和取食杀死2种粉虱的数量最多为11.5头,显著高于未饥饿处理的6.5头。表明释放前经历适度饥饿可以明显提高浅黄恩蚜小蜂寄生和取食粉虱若虫的能力。     

Parasitism of egg-batches of the cedar processionary moth<Emphasis Type="Italic">Traumatocampa ispartaensis</Emphasis> in Turkey

Studies were carried out on the egg material ofTraumatocampa ispartaensis Doganlar & Avcı (Lep.: Notodontidae) collected onCedrus libani A. Rich. A total of 95 egg-batches were sampled over two annual generations ofTr. ispartaensis. The number of eggs in each egg-batch varied between 39 and 245 and the length of the batches varied between 7 and 36 mm. The mean number of eggs per batch was found to be 119 and 122 in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Based on field data the oviposition period continued from mid August to mid September. The mean hatching rate of the host was found to be 85.8% and 88.9%, whereas the impact of egg parasitoids accounted for 11.3% and 7.4%, respectively in the 2 years.Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet) was observed as the most abundant egg parasitoid, followed byOoencyrtus sp. nearmasii (Mercet) andTrichogramma brassicae Bezdenko. Based on the emergence dynamics of the egg parasitoids in the laboratory, it seems thatO. pityocampae emerged mainly in June whereasO. sp. nearmasii andT. brassicae emerged mainly in May. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 3, 2003.     

Natural enemies of the pear psylla<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacopsylla pyri</Emphasis> in treated<Emphasis Type="Italic">vs</Emphasis> untreated pear orchards in Antalya,Turkey

Populations of pear psylla,Cacopsylla pyri (L.) (Rhynchota: Psyllidae), and its natural enemies were sampled on pears in Antalya province during the years 2000–2002. Thirty-two species of predators and three species of parasitoids were detected to be associated withC. pyri in Antalya province. The heteropterans (especially anthocorid species) were the most abundant predator group. Among the anthocorids,Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), whose population was closely related to the dynamics of the pear psylla population, was generally the principal antagonist ofC. pyri. Other species recorded during the study were the miridDeraeocoris spp., the chrysopidChrysoperla carnea L., and many coccinellid species. Although these predators are polyphagous, as are theOrius species, their populations were related to the psylla fluctuations. Among the parasitoid complex belonging to the order Hymenoptera, the encyrtidTrechnites psyllae (Ruschka) was the only primary parasitoid. Two hyperparasites,viz., Syrphophagus mamitus (Walker) andPachyneuron aphidis (Bouché) (Encyrtidae and Pteromalidae, respectively), were detected in the surveys. Also, this study revealed new information concerning the pear psylla parasitoid complex in Turkey. WhileT. psyllae andS. mamitus are new records to Turkish parasitoid fauna,C. pyri is a new host record forP. aphidis. The population development and abundance of pear psylla and its natural enemies, as well as the parasitization rates in treated and untreated pear orchards, are presented here. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 6, 2004.     

Fecundity ofEurydema ornatum feeding on a variety of seeds under laboratory conditions

The egg parasitoidTrissolcus spp. is the natural enemy of the cabbage bug,Eurydema ornatum L. (Het., Pentatomidae), a destructive pest of cultivated and wild Crucifera. Its preferred host is the wheat bugEurygaster integriceps Put., the most important pest of wheat. In order to rear the parasite for biological control purposes, mass production of its hostE. ornatum is suggested. In a laboratory study, the fecundity ofE. ornatum feeding on garden cress and radish was significantly higher than on red cabbage, white cabbage, rape or cauliflower. The oviposition period was significantly longer on garden cress and radish than on the other Crucifera. There was no difference among the various Crucifera in terms of length of postoviposition period or number of eggs laid per female per day.     

Attraction ofTrichogramma platneri to eggs of some lepidopterous pests of avocado

The attraction ofTrichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to eggs of two lepidopterous avocado pests,Boarmia sel-enaria (Schiffermüller) (Geometridae) andCryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Phycitidae), was evaluated in olfactometer tests. The mobility of the wasp as measured by a mobility index was 0.6 for males and 1.8 for females; the males had a lower mobility and a lower search capacity index than the females. Frozen and fresh youngB. selenaria eggs had the greatest attraction forT. platneri, which diminished with increasing age of the eggs. The eggs ofC. gnidiella were also attractive to the parasitoid. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 2704-E, 1989 series.     

Note: Life history of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus bardanae</Emphasis> on curly dock (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex crispus</Emphasis>) in Turkey

The biology ofLixus bardanae (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) in northeastern Anatolia (Bayburt, Erzurum and Kars Provinces), Turkey, was studied during the years 2000 and 2001.L. bardanae completes one generation in a year, overwintering as an adult. It feeds on leaves of the host plant. Females lay eggs individually into stems and the young larvae create galleries in stems while feeding. Pupation occurs inside stems in cells fashioned from frass. In late September, adults move into soil and overwinter in an upright position around the roots of the host plant. Infestation levels were found to range between 34% and 84%. Two parasitoids,Exeristes roborator F. andEndromopoda phragmitidis Perve (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), were reared fromL. bardanae. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 21, 2003.     

Distribution and relative importance of lepidopteran cereal stemborers and their parasitoids in Uganda

Infestation levels and parasitism of lepidopteran stemborers on maize were assessed in four agroecological zones (AEZ) in Uganda. The indigenous noctuidBusseola fusca Fuller (Noctuidae) and the invasiveChilo partellus Swinhoe (Crambidae) were the most important stemborers recorded.C. partellus represented 77% of the stemborers in the Eastern AEZ whileB. fusca was dominant in the other AEZs, accounting for 60–79%. The proportion of infested plants was between 16% and 45% and borer density between 0.2 and 1.0 borers per plant. There was no clear relationship between damage and stem tunneling, which is often used to estimate yield loss.Telenomus busseolae Gahan (Scelionidae), the only egg parasitoid recovered, caused parasitism of up to 46% onB. fusca eggs. Several larval and pupal parasitoid species were recorded. The most common were the indigenous braconidCotesia sesamiae and the introducedCotesia flavipes, which are larval parasitoids ofB. fusca andC. partellus, respectively. Mean parasitism by the indigenousC. sesamiae ranged between 2.0% and 29.4% onB. fusca and from 0 to 13% onC. partellus. C. flavipes was recovered at most locations with parasitism of 0–30.5% onC. partellus and 0–12% onB. fusca; the latter was probably the result of multiparasitism as laboratory studies have shown that it was not a suitable host forC. partellus. Results indicated further that the parasitoid has not attained equilibrium 5 years after its introduction. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 20, 2006. Teddy Matama-Kauma died suddenly in an accident on Dec. 10, 2006, while this paper was in press.     

Is the parasitization rate of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaeretiella rapae</Emphasis> influenced when<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevicoryne brassicae</Emphasis> feeds on<Emphasis Type="Italic">brassica</Emphasis> plants?

The development time and parasitization rate ofDiaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) onBrevicoryne brassicae (L.) feeding on differentBrassica cultivars was studied in the laboratory at 20°C. The shortest development time from egg to adult parasitoid was 11.6 days on cabbage cv. ‘Yalova 1’ and the longest was 12.1 days on turnip cv. ‘Antep’ and rapeseed cv. local variety. Females lived significantly longer than males on the host plants used in the study. Females and males had the shortest longevity on rapeseed at 11.1 and 5.1 days, respectively. The highest percent parasitism ofB. brassicae byD. rapae was found on cabbage (40.20%), and the lowest was recorded on turnip (32.64%). Our results demonstrate that parasitism rate could be influenced by the plant quality, probably due to the nutritional status of the aphids or to toxic compounds ingested through the plant. Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli were found to be suitable plants for the parasitoid, considering the development time of pre-adults, and the parasitization rate ofD. rapae onB. brassicae. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 23, 2007.     

海氏桨角蚜小蜂新疆种群形态特征及其与烟粉虱的时空动态比较

为了解烟粉虱的寄生蜂海氏桨角蚜小蜂的特征、发生规律,观察了其新疆种群的形态特征,于2012年在田间比较了该寄生蜂在棉花、甜瓜、茄子和辣椒上与烟粉虱的时空动态。结果表明,在辣椒上海氏桨角蚜小蜂成虫发生期最早,7月5日始见成虫;在4种作物上海氏桨角蚜小蜂和烟粉虱成虫分别在茄子和甜瓜上的发生数量最多,单叶虫口数量最高分别为16.12和66.47头;除辣椒外,在其它作物上成蜂的发生期比烟粉虱成虫约晚20 d,而被寄生的烟粉虱若虫与未被寄生的若虫时空动态较吻合;烟粉虱和海氏桨角蚜小蜂在植株上的成虫数量均表现出明显的上部中部下部的分布特征。研究表明,与烟粉虱比较,海氏桨角蚜小蜂新疆种群的时空动态表现出明显的滞后性和跟随效应,且其可能对寄主植物有一定的选择性。     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Potential for Nonhost Volatiles as Repellents in Integrated Pest Management of Ambrosia Beetles

Semiochemical-based mass trapping of the striped ambrosia beetle, Trypodendron lineatum (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), has been the cornerstone of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme for ambrosia beetles on the British Columbia coast since 1981. However, there is no available tactic of protecting logs from attack that could be incorporated into the IPM programme. We tested nonhost volatiles (NHVs) from the bark of angiosperm trees for their ability to disrupt catches of T. lineatum in multiple-funnel traps baited with the aggregation pheromone lineatin. In one set of experiments, a blend of 1-hexanol and benzyl alcohol caused 77.9% and 80.0% reduction in captures of males and females, respectively, and in another a blend of methyl salicylate and salicylaldehyde caused reductions of 65.0% for males and 66.9% for females. All four NHVs combined caused reductions in captures for males and females of 82.3% and 81.4%, respectively, not much greater than to the blend of 1-hexanol and benzyl alcohol. However, because both blends were active alone, their redundancy when combined lends confidence to the selection of the four-component blend for operational testing. Although disruption was increased when a 16-component NHV blend was tested, or when (±)–(E)-conophthorin was added to the four-component blend, addition of more compounds to the four-component blend was not considered operationally or economically justifiable. When deployed from low-density polyethylene tubes stapled along the length of pheromone-baited conifer logs, this blend caused prolonged and significant reductions in landing by T. lineatum and also by Gnathotrichus sulcatus (LeConte) and G. retusus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). However, attacking beetles generally overcame the NHV treatment by the end of the flight period, leading to similar attack densities on treated and control logs. Therefore, we recommend that further operational investigations explore using repellent NHVs in combination with disruptive visual, tactile or gustatory stimuli.     

Clutch size decisions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotesia glomerata</Emphasis>, a gregarious parasitoid of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pieris brassicae</Emphasis>

This work investigated the ability of the gregarious larval endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to adjust the progeny sex ratio and clutch size with repeated oviposition experience and the effect of a honey-based diet on the clutch size. In the field-collected clusters many clusters were female-biased but some clusters (3.8%) produced only male wasps, suggesting that there is a low percentage of unmated females in the field. Superparasitism was common in the field, and females were believed to increase progeny sex ratio when attacking previously parasitized hosts. In the laboratory, the number of eggs laid in a day tended to decrease with increasing female age. For females that were offered two hosts per day and for those offered three hosts per day, this value became nearly the same at 9 days after the start of oviposition. Old females which attacked many hosts tended to lay fewer eggs in a day than young ones. However, the degree of this tendency was not the same for all the parasitoid females of all three groups because sperm remained viable throughout a female’s lifetime. The amount of sperm used in a single oviposition bout seemed fixed and was not dependent on the number of eggs laid. Over the 2 days of the clutch size response experiment, the number of hosts a female attacked per day was not affected by the presence or absence of honey.     

The potential of middle eastern flora as a source of new safe bio-acaricides to control<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus cinnabarinus</Emphasis>, the carmine spider mite

Twenty-nine plant extracts of local species were evaluated for their potential as a source of bioactive ingredients with significant acaricidal activity that could lead to the development of new and safe bio-acaricides. The crude extracts (70% ethanol) of these plants were tested for their acaricidal activity against the carmine spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus in a bioassay under controlled conditions. Mortality, repellency, and the number of eggs laid were measured. Extracts fromEucalyptus camaldulensis andInula viscosa caused more than 25% mortality. Sixteen plant extracts showed significant repellency compared with the control. The six best extracts, resulting in more than 75% repellency, were fromAllium sativum, Capparis spinosa, Cupressus sempervirens, Lupinus pilosus, Rhus coriaria andTamarix aphylla. Extracts from 16 plants were found to cause a significant reduction in the number of eggs laid compared with the control. The greatest reduction was achieved by extracts fromC. spinosa, Cyperus rotundus, E. camaldulensis, L. pilosus, Punica granatum, R. coriaria andT. aphylla. A relatively negative fit was found between the mean number of repelled mites and the number of eggs laid (r=−0.65), which might indicate that most repelled mites were unable to lay eggs before leaving the leaf discs of the bioassay. Our results show that several plant extracts have good potential for acaricidal activity and are worth further investigation. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 16, 2003.     

Weed hosts ofVerticillium dahliae in crete: Susceptibility, symptomatology and significance

A survey of common and uncommon weed species usually showing Verticillium wilt symptoms was carried out during 1992–2000 in Crete, Greece.Verticillium dahliae was isolated in 48 out of 182 sampled fields, in which several weed species were grown, from several locations in Oropedio, Lasithi. Altogether, 124 isolates ofV. dahliae were recovered from the vascular stem-tissue of 19 weed species, belonging to ten botanical families. Pathogenicity trials with 13 out of 19 weed species that have never been reported as hosts of the fungus, using for inoculation isolates which originated from the same weed species, resulted in infection of all of them, showing various disease symptoms. Seven weed species (Anthemis melanolepis, Cardaria draba, Convolvulus arvensis, Erodium sp.,Euphorbia helioscopia, Helminthotheca echioides andSinapis alba) are new hosts worldwide, and six additional species (Euphorbia sp.,Lactuca serriola, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sinapis arvensis, Sonchus oleraceus andTrifolium sp.) are new hosts for Greece. The most susceptible (isolation frequency: 27.9–52.8%, moderate disease severity) species were:Capsella bursa-pastoris, C. draba, Chenopodium album, Senecio vulgaris andSolanum nigrum. Less susceptible (isolation frequency: 4.8–17.8%, slight disease severity) were:Amaranthus sp.,A. melanolepis, C. arvensis, Erodium sp.,Euphorbia sp.,E. helioscopia, H. echioides, L. serriola, Malva sylvestris, R. raphanistrum, S. alba, S. arvensis, S. oleraceus andTrifolium sp. Some species —C. draba, C. album, L. serriola andS. nigrum L. — that usually showed external and vascular wilt symptoms, occasionally exhibited only reduced growth. Visible symptoms under natural field conditions in all 13 weed species that had never been reported as hosts ofV. dahliae were similar to those observed after their artificial inoculation. The fungus was not isolated fromFoeniculum vulgare ssp.piperitum, Oxalis corniculata andStellaria media, among other species. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 18, 2002.     

The parasitoid complex ofLiriomyza cicerina on chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Liriomyza cicerina (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is an important pest on chickpea in Turkey. The objective of this study was to determine the parasitoids and rates of parasitism ofL. cicerina on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons in ?anl?urfa province, Turkey. Leaves with mines were sampled weekly and kept in the laboratory to observe and count emerging leafminer and parasitoid adults. Eight parasitoid species were collected: the braconidsOpius monilicornis Fischer andOpius tersus Foerster and the eulophidsDiaulinopsis arenaria (Erdös) andNeochrysocharis formosa (Westwood), which occurred in both the winter and summer seasons;Diglyphus crassinervis Erdös,Neochrysocharis ambitiosa Hansson,Neochrysocharis sericea (Erdös) andPediobius metallicus (Nees), which occurred only in the summer growing areas.Diaulinopsis arenaria was the predominant parasitoid with 4–7.7% parasitism rate whileN. ambitiosa andO. monilicornis were the second and third most predominant species. The results of these trials show that sinceDia. arenaria occurred throughout every season, it could potentially be used for control of the leafminerL. cicerina.     

Response by encapsulation of four mealybug species (homoptera: pseudococcidae) to parasitization byAnagyrus pseudococci

The frequency of encapsulation of eggs ofAnagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) by four mealybug species:Planococcus citri (Risso),PL vovae (Nasonov),Pl. ficus (Signoret) andPseudococcus cryptus Hempel (=citriculus Green), was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The aggregate percentage of encapsulated eggs (AE) and the percentage of efficient encapsulation (EE) (= percent parasitized mealybugs wherein encapsulation prevented the development of all parasitoid larvae) byPl. citri andPl. vovae did not differ significantly (39.0%vs 38.2% AE and 15.4%vs 17.6% EE, respectively), but was significantly higher than inPs. cryptus (16.2% AE and 5.4% EE). Encapsulation byPl. vovae was significantly higher than byPl. ficus (38.2%vs 20.1% AE and 17.6% vs 7.7% EE, respectively). Neither the host plant nor the rearing temperature significantly affected the incidence of parasitoid encapsulation. It is suggested thatA. pseudococci displays a relatively low physiological adaptation toPl. citri; thus, in a citrus grove, for example,ca 40% of the parasitoid eggs might be lost due to encapsulation. The question of a possible association between encapsulation and host—parasitoid relationships among the mealybugs studied andA. pseudococci, is discussed.