Effect of Botanical Insecticides on the Foraging and Feeding Behavior of the Coccinellid PredatorCryptolaemus montrouzieri

To investigate the effect of botanicals on the foraging behavior of the mealybug predatorCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, predator larvae and adults were exposed to leaves and the mealybugPlanococcus citri (Risso) treated with one of the following: a crude neem seed extract; a formulation of azadirachtin (Azatin EC®); a pyrethrum extract; and one of two naphthoquinones isolated fromCalceolaria andina Benth. (BTG 504 and BTG 505). All the botanicals influenced the foraging behavior ofC. montrouzieri, at one or more concentrations. Larval and adult foraging behavior was influenced most by BTG 504 and neem also affected larval behavior; the predators contacted fewer treated leaves and spent less time on treated than on untreated leaves. Larvae also consumed fewer mealybugs treated with BTG 504 and BTG 505 compared with untreated mealybugs.     

Laboratory assay of the effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales) against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), even under the use of fungicides

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is one of the main pests in vineyards. At present biological control of the pest is based on the release of hymenopterous parasitoids and coccinellid predators. The effectiveness of an entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria farinosa, as an alternative biological control agent on vine mealybug P. ficus was investigated by using different inoculum densities and different relative humidity levels. The fungus caused more than 80% mortality at 95% relative humidity and at 1 × 10⁸ conidia ml^?1 inoculum density. The mortality effects of the fungus decreased in lower humidity levels and lower spore densities. The inhibitory effects of common fungicides, used in vineyards, on I. farinosa were also investigated. Sulphur, copper oxychloride, fosetyl-Al and chlorothalonil did not decrease the effectiveness of I. farinosa as a pathogen of vine mealybug. With the application of tebuconazole, penconazole and mancozeb, the most inhibitory fungicides on the entomopathogen, the mortality rates of mealybugs, inoculated with I. farinosa, decreased from 86% to 42%, 34% and 45%, respectively, in the adult females; from 94% to 51%, 45% and 45%, respectively, in the first nymphal stages; and from 86% to 56%, 49% and 63%, respectively, in ovisacs.     

Management strategies of mealybug pests of citrus in mediterranean countries

Six mealybug species have been reported as citrus pests in the Mediterranean Basin: the citrus mealybugPlanococcus citri (Risso), the citriculus mealybugPseudococcus cryptus Hempel, the longtailed mealybugPseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti), the citrophilus mealybugPseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell), the obscure mealybugPseudococcus viburni (Signoret) and the spherical mealybugNipaecoccus viridis (Newstead). Some of these species,e.g. N. viridis, have recently been introduced into the region and are still spreading. Mealybugs are usually occasional or minor pests of citrus, but some species can reach key pest status. Mealybug management strategies in citrus have been based mostly on classical biological control and, to a lesser extent, on augmentative releases. However, chemical control is widely used, mainly because of the poor adaptation of the principal natural enemies to the climatic conditions of the Mediterranean. The application of pheromones is still restricted to monitoring the citrus mealybug, whose sex pheromone is commercially available. Mass trapping and mating disruption should be considered for possible use in IPM programs as an alternative method to supplementary chemical treatments. Enhancement of biological control through management of ant populations is another promising tactic for control of mealybugs. Strategies for managing mealybug pests of citrus, and possible levels of integration of different tactics according to the pest status, are discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 3, 2004.     

大洋臀纹粉蚧和南洋臀纹粉蚧TaqMan实时荧光PCR检测方法

臀纹粉蚧属有多个种类是重要的农业害虫,大洋臀纹粉蚧(Planococcus minor(Maskell))和南洋臀纹粉蚧(Planococcus lilacius Cockerell)是我国有重要检疫意义的有害生物.这两种臀纹粉蚧经常从进口泰国和东南亚水果口岸检疫中截获,但形态学方法很难进行准确鉴定.本研究首次利用mtDNA COI基因设计了两条特异性探针,应用TaqMan实时荧光PCR方法对大洋臀纹粉蚧和南洋臀纹粉蚧进行了快速准确鉴定.     

Effect of Buprofezin onIcerya Purchasi andPlanococcus Citri

The effectiveness of buprofezin (aqueous suspensions from 25% wettable powder) on cumulative nymph mortality and reproduction of two homopterous pests,Icerya purchasi Maskell (Margarodidae) andPlanococcus citri (Risso) (Pseudococcidae), was investigated under laboratory conditions. Buprofezin was very effective against crawlers of both species. Dipping in concentrations of 0.002%, 0.01% and 0.05% (a. i.) resulted in 91–99% nymph mortality ofP. citri, whereas 100% mortality was recorded whenI. purchasi was treated at 0.05% (a. i.); the 3rd-instar nymphs ofI. purchasi were less susceptible to the chemical. Death of the larval stages occurred mainly during the molting process to the 2nd-instar nymphs. At 0.05%, buprofezin sprayed on adults slightly reduced fecundity and decreased egg hatch to 31% forI. purchasi and, depending on the exposure period of the females, to 49-7% forP. citri. Buprofezin at 0.05% exhibited strong ovicidal activity onP. citri, resulting in inhibition of over 80% egg hatch.     

Investigation of mealybug (hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) species from Turkey by RAPD

Molecular markers are commonly used for determining the relationship between insect species. In this study, we investigated the relationship of six mealybug species,Planococcus citri (Risso),Planococcus ficus (Signoret),Planococcus vovae (Nasonov),Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti),Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) andPhenacoccus aceris (Signoret), sampled from Turkey, using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Of the 50 RAPD primers tested, 18 identified a total of 256 fragments of which all were polymorphic. Sufficient discrimination betweenP. citri andP. ficus was provided by several RAPD primers. The genetic distance values calculated for each pair-wise comparison ranged from 0.156 to 0.504. Cluster analyses of RAPD data clearly separated the species into two groups. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 4, 2007.     

Feeding potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptolaemus montrouzieri</Emphasis> against the mealybug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phenacoccus solenopsis</Emphasis>

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an exotic species native to the USA, damaging cotton and other plant families. The feeding potential of different development stages of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, a biological control agent against mealybugs, was investigated on different development stages of P. solenopsis. Fourth instar grubs and adults of C. montrouzieri were the most voracious feeders on different instars of mealybug. The number of 1^st instar nymphs of mealybug consumed by 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th instar larvae and adult beetles of C. montrouzieri was 15.56, 41.01, 125.38, 162.69 and 1613.81, respectively. The respective numbers of 2^nd and 3^rd instar nymphs of mealybug consumed were 11.15 and 1.80, 26.35 and 6.36, 73.66 and 13.32, 76.04 and 21.16, 787.95 and 114.66. The corresponding figures for adult female mealybugs were 0.94, 3.23, 8.47, 12.71 and 73.40, respectively. The results indicate that C. montrouzieri has the potential to be exploited as a biocontrol agent in North India; inoculative releases of 4^th instar larvae and adults may provide instant control of P. solenopsis. Field experiments should be conducted to determine the efficiency of the ladybird on this mealybug.     

Development and fecundity ofSitobion avenae on some wheat cultivars under laboratory conditions

Nymphal development time and fecundity ofSitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were determined on nine widespread wheat varieties cultivated in Tekirdağ Region in Turkey. Tests were carried out in controlled environment chambers (25±1°C, 65±5% r.h.; 16:8, L:D). Development time (±S.E.) ranged from 5.75±0.25 to 7.20±0.20 days. Fecundity per female ofS. avenae was found to be the highest (12.87±1.50) on wheat cv. ‘Sana’. In this investigation cvs. ‘MV-17’, ‘Miryana’, ‘Pehlivan’ and ‘Saraybosna’ were particularly resistant againstS. avenae. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 8, 2002.     

Olfactory reactions ofCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Col., Coccinellidae) andChrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neur., Chrysopidae) in relation to period of starvation

In a laboratory study, it was tried to measure the extent of olfactory responses of two predators namelyCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant andChrysoperla carnea (Stephens) to their respective preys at varied levels of their starvation. Results indicated that both the predators, irrespective of their developmenta stage, oriented more positively to their preys odour when they were deprived of food for certain period of time than they did so when tested directly without subjecting them to starvation. The first, second, third and fourth instar larvae and adults ofC. montrouzieri showed maximum response at 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 12 h and 24 h of starvation, respectively. Similarly, the larvae ofC. carnea responded maximum with 4 h, 8 h and 12 h of hunger in first, second and third instar, respectively. However it was also evident that the continued starvation for more than certain ideal period affected the predators olfactory orientation negatively. But the adults ofC. montrouzieri differed slightly in their behavior as they could respond positively for comparatively longer period of starvation.In Laborversuchen wurde das Ausmaß der olfaktorischen Reaktionen der beiden PrädatorenCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant undChrysoperla carnea (Stephens) auf deren BeuteinsektenPlanococcus citri Risso respektiveAcyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) und in Abhängigkeit von der Dauer einer vorangegangenen Hungerperiode, namentlich 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 und 24 Stunden, ermittelt. Wie die Ergebnisse belegen, reagieren beide Prädatoren-Arten unabhängig vom jeweiligen Entwicklungsstadium stärker auf den Geruch ihrer Beute, wenn sie zuvor eine bestimmte Zeit unter Ausschluß von Nahrung gehalten worden waren. Dabei zeigte sich bei den Larven beider Arten ein typischer Verlauf der Attraktivität durch die Beute, nach dem diese mit zunehmender Dauer der Hungerperiode zunächst zunahm, um nach einem Maximum wieder deutlich abzufallen. Dieser Verlauf erwies sich für die einzelnen Larvenstadien als unterschiedlich. So wurde fürC. montrouzieri das Maximum bei den L₁-Larven mit durchschnittlich 9,33 von 15 durch die Beute angelockten Individuen bereits nach einer Hungerperiode von 4 h erreicht, für die L₂ jedoch mit 9,50 Individuen erst nach 8 und für die L₃ sowie L₄ erst nach 12 h mit 8,83 respektive 9,17 Individuen. Lediglich bei denC. montrouzieri-Adulten war eine kontinuierliche Zunahme der Attraktivität der Beute während des Untersuchungszeitraums von 24 h festzustellen, wobei das Maximum bei 10,00 Individuen lag. Analog wurde für das ersteC. carnea-Larvenstadium bei einer 4stündigen Hungerperiode mit 55,5% attrahierten Individuen das Maximum erreicht, wohingegen das zweite Stadium mit 61,1% bei der 8- und das dritte mit 65,5% bei der 12stündigen Hungerperiode die maximale Attraktion durch die Beute aufwies.

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Effect of apple cultivar and of temperature on the biology and life table parameters of the twospotted spider mite<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis>

Development duration and reproduction rate of the twospotted spider miteTetranychus urticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae) were studied on five different apple cultivars (‘Amasya’ (local cultivar), ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Starking Delicious’ and ‘Starkrimson Delicious’) at 25°C, 65±10% r.h. and 16:8 L:D. In addition, the same parameters were determined on Golden Delicious leaves at three constant temperatures (20°, 30° and 35°C, 65±10% r.h. and 16:8 L:D) in the laboratory.T. urticae performed better on Granny Smith than on the other cultivars, due mainly to high daily egg production (4.6 eggs/♀/day) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m , which was 0.243 ♀/♀/day). The lowestr _m was observed on Amasya variety (0.231 ♀/♀/day). Development periods of immature stages ofT. urticae varied from 6.5 to 15.5 days at 35° and 20°C, respectively, for females, and from 5.9 to 14.5 days at 35° and 20°C, respectively, for males. The development thresholds of the eggs and pre-adult stages, respectively, were 10.78° and 8.43°C, and total effective temperatures were 57.80 and 172.41 degree-days. Mean generation time (T _o ) of the population ranged from 9.94 days at 35°C to 25.99 days at 20°C. The net reproduction rate increased from 66.99 ♀/♀ at 20°C to 92.19 ♀/♀ at 25°C, and decreased to 84.34 ♀/♀ at 30°C and to 12.04 ♀/♀ at 35°C. The highest r _m occurred at 30°C (0.302 ♀/♀/day) and the lowest at 20°C (0.161 ♀/♀/day). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2003.     

Modelling the progress of Asiatic citrus canker on Tahiti lime in relation to temperature and leaf wetness

The combined effect of temperature (15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C and 42°C) and leaf wetness duration (0, 4, 8 12, 16, 20 and 24 h) on infection and development of Asiatic citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) on Tahiti lime plant was examined in growth chambers. No disease developed at 42°C and zero hours of leaf wetness. Periods of leaf wetness as short as 4 h were sufficient for citrus canker infection. However, a longer leaf duration wetness (24 h) did not result in much increase in the incidence of citrus canker, but led to twice the number of lesions and four times the disease severity. Temperature was the greatest factor influencing disease development. At optimum temperatures (25–35°C), there was 100% disease incidence. Maximum disease development was observed at 30–35°C, with up to a 12-fold increase in lesion density, a 10-fold increase in lesion size and a 60-fold increase in disease severity.     

Encapsulation rates of the parasitoid <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Anagyrus</Emphasis> sp. nr. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">pseudococci</Emphasis>, by three mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Laboratory studies assessing the degree of suitability of the mealybugs Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Planococcus citri (Risso) and Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell), towards the Sicilian ecotype of the encyrtid parasitoid Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci were carried out. All three species of mealybugs were shown to encapsulate the eggs of the encyrtid; however, significant differences were revealed among them in rates of encapsulation and/or superparasitism. The level of aggregate encapsulation and effective encapsulation of the parasitoid eggs by P. citri (74.95 ± 0.87 and 60.19 ± 1.70, respectively) was significantly higher than that recorded for P. ficus (aggregate encapsulation = 58.43 ± 0.83 and effective encapsulation = 31.31 ± 1.55) and significantly lower than the values found in Ps. calceolariae (93.99 ± 0.97 and 88.61 ± 2.03, respectively). As such, rates of parasitism were significantly lower for P. ficus compared with both P. citri and Ps. calceolariae. The two latter species of mealybugs showed similar rates of parasitism by A. sp. nr. pseudococci. Moreover, a significantly higher rate of superparasitism was found for Ps. calceolariae compared with both P. citri and P. ficus, whereas no significant differences were found between the two species of Planococcus for this parameter.     

Use of sclerotia of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</Emphasis> for efficient production of conidia of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniothyrium minitans</Emphasis> in liquid culture

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using sclerotia ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum for producing conidia ofConiothyrium minitans in liquid culture. The medium (SST) was made of water containing 2.0, 1.5, 1.0 or 0.5% (w/v) ground sclerotia ofS. sclerotiorum and 100 μgl ⁻¹ thiamine hydrochloride (HCl). One ml of conidial suspension (2 × 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹) ofC. minitans LRC 2534 was inoculated into 100 ml of SST medium or control (thiamine HCl in water) and incubated at 20 ± 2°C on a shaker at 200 rpm. Subsamples were removed periodically and examined under a compound microscope. Conidia in the SST media germinated within 24 h, developed into branched hyphae within 48 h, produced pycnidia after 3–4 days, and the pycnidia released mature conidia after 7 days. Production of conidia varied with the concentration of sclerotia in the SST medium. It was lower (3.6 × 10⁶ conidia ml⁻¹) at 0.5% but higher (1.2 × 10⁸ conidia ml⁻¹) at 2%. The new conidia were viable and the colonies developing from them showed the original morphological characteristics. It was concluded that using SST liquid medium as a substrate for mass production of conidia ofC. minitans has potential for use in commercial development of this mycoparasite as a biocontrol product. http:www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 23, 2007.     

Development,fecundity and prey consumption ofExochomus nigromaculatus feeding onHyalopterus pruni

Development, survival and reproduction ofExochomus nigromaculatus (Goeze) were studied in the laboratory at four constant temperatures from 20°C to 35±1°C in 5°C increments, 60±5% r.h. and 16 h of artificial light (5000 lux). Development time from egg to adult ranged from 22.4 days at 20°C to 10.6 days at 35°C, and required 278 degree-days above a threshold estimated to be 9.11°C. Survival was highest at 25°C and lowest at 35°C. Longevity of females declined significantly with increasing temperatures, ranging from 120.7 days at 20°C to 46.6 days at 35°C. Mean generation time became shorter with increasing temperatures. The intrinsic rate of increase of individuals kept at 30°C was significantly greater than that of individuals kept at the other temperatures tested. Fourth larval instars and adults ofE. nigromaculatus displayed a Type II functional response toHyalopterus pruni densities. Searching rate of fourth instar larvae and adults was similar, but handling time was shorter for female adults. Results obtained in this study showed that the optimal temperature for population growth ofE. nigromaculatus was 30°C and this coccinellid predator may have potential as a biological control agent forH. pruni because of its feeding capacity. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 22, 2002.     

Development ofClonostachys rosea and interactions withBotrytis cinerea in rose leaves and residues

The effect of microclimate variables on development ofClonostachys rosea and biocontrol ofBotrytis cinerea was investigated on rose leaves and crop residues. C.rosea established and sporulated abundantly on inoculated leaflets incubated for 7–35 days at 10°, 20° and 30°C and then placed on paraquat—chloramphenical agar (PCA) for 15 days at 20°C. On leaflets kept at 10°C, the sporulation after incubation on PCA increased from 60% to 93% on samples taken 7 to 21 days after inoculation, but decreased to 45% on material sampled after 35 days. A similar pattern was observed on leaves incubated at either 20° or 30°C. The sporulation ofC. rosea on leaf disks on PCA was not affected when the onset of high humidity occurred 0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 h after inoculation. However, sporulation was reduced to 54–58% on leaflets kept for 20–24 h under dry conditions after inoculation and before being placed on PCA. The fungus sporulated on 68–74% of the surface of leaf disks kept for up to 24 h at high humidity after inoculation, but decreased to 40–51% if the high humidity period before transferral to PCA was prolonged to 36–48 h. The growth ofC. rosea on leaflets was reduced at low inoculum concentrations (10³ and 10⁴ conidia/ml) because of competition with indigenous microorganisms, but at higher concentrations (10⁵ and 10⁶ conidia/ml) the indigenous fungi were inhibited. Regardless of the time of application ofC. rosea in relation toB. cinerea, the pathogen’s sporulation was reduced by more than 99%. The antagonist was able to parasitize hyphae and conidiophores ofB. cinerea in the leaf residues. AsC. rosea exhibited flexibility in association with rose leaves under a wide range of microclimatic conditions, and in reducingB. cinerea sporulation on rose leaves and residues, it can be expected to suppress the pathogen effectively in rose production systems.     

Ecological data on predators ofParlatoria pergandii on sour orange trees in southern Greece

The present study was carried out in southern Greece during 1993-1995 on sour orange trees infested with the diaspididParlatoria pergandii Comstock. The activity of the natural enemies of the scale, the composition of their population during the year as well as their relation with hymenopterous parasitoids of coccinellids, were studied.P. pergandii was parasitized by a hymenopterous endoparasite of the genusEncarsia and the extent of parasitization ranged between 5.2% and 14.1%. The observed predators were the coccinelidsChilocoms bipustulatus Linnaeus andRhyzobius lophanthae Blaisdell and the nitidulidCybocephalus fodori Endrödy-Younga. The predominant predator wasR. lophanthae (84.3% of the larvae and 73.3% of the adults), which was active throughout the whole year in all of its developmental stages. Second most abundant was the predatorC. bipustulatus (15.7% of the larvae and 20% of the adults) and third the predator C.fodori (6.7% of the adults). Larvae ofC. bipustulatus were observed to be parasitized by the hymenopterous parasitoidsHomalotylus flaminius Dalman (Encyrtidae) andTetrastichus coccinellae Kurdjumov (Eulophidae). The parasitization percentage increased gradually from 4% in mid June to 94% around the end of September. Laboratory tests confirmed that the above mentioned parasitoids cannot infest larvae or nymphs ofR. lophanthae.     

Pathogenicity ofVerticillium lecanii to different developmental stages of the silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia argentifolii

Thirty-five strains ofVerticillium lecanii which originated from different hosts and geographical locations were tested as potential biocontrol agents against silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring. All strains were tested for their pathogenicity to third-instar nymphs. Several isolates which exhibited high pathogenicity to nymphs were also tested against eggs, pupae and adults ofB. argentifolii. Eggs were found to be immune to infection, but mortality of hatching nymphs reached 95–98%. The rate of hatching nymphs’ infection depended on the age at which the eggs were inoculated and the strain’s virulence. Mortality of nymphs recorded on day 4 after inoculation varied from 0.5±0.3% to 83±2.4%; that of the control ranged from 2.5% to 10.2%. The most virulent strains, with LT₅₀ ranging between 3.2 and 3.8 days, were isolated from aphids in Israel and probably have a similar origin. The pathogenicity ofV. lecanii strains to pupae 6 days after inoculation varied between 59± 12.1 % and 72.5± 13.1 %, as compared with natural mortality of 13.5±4%. The maximum adult mortality caused byV. lecanii strains was between 34.1±5.1% and 52.6±3.8%.     

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.     

Influence of temperature on toxicity of propylene oxide at low pressure against<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis>

Toxicity of propylene oxide (PPO) at low pressure against the most common stored-product insect,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), over a short exposure time, was tested at three different temperatures (16°, 22° and 30°C). Toxicities of PPO at 100 mm Hg were strongly influenced by ambient temperature. LD₅₀ and LD₉₉ toxicities ranged from 4.7 to 28.9 mgl ⁻¹ and from 10.5 to 72.6 mgl ⁻¹ respectively, showing that susceptibility was positively correlated to the temperature. The LD₉₉ values for all life stages (except the larval stage) were significantly lower at 30° than those at 16° and 22°C. However, the LD₉₉ values for all life stages (except the pupal stage) at 16° were not significantly different from those at 22°C. A concentration × time (Ct) product of 291, 171 and 98 mg h/l was required to obtain complete mortality (99%) ofT. castaneum at 16°, 22° and 30°C, respectively. Thus, the efficacy of PPO at 100 mm Hg to all life stages ofT. castaneum also decreased as the temperature decreased from 30° to 16°C. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 28, 2004.     

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.