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Turkish Journal of Zoology

DOI

-

Abstract

A survey of parasitoids of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was carried out in the citrus orchards in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey during 1995-2001. Their relative abundance and rate of parasitism were also determined. Ten species of parasitoids were identified: Cirrospilus sp. nr. lyncus (Walker), C. pictus (Nees), C. variegatus (Masi), C. vittatus Walker, C. ingenuus Gahan, Ratzeburgiola incompleta (Boucek), Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Semielacher petiolatus (Girault), Citrostichus phyllocnistoides (Narayanan), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Neochrysocharis sp., Chrysocharis sp., Barycapus sp., Pnigalio sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and the Pteromalus sp. (Hym.: Pteromalidae) were also identified. Among these species, R. incompleta in 1995-1996 and C. sp. nr. lyncus in 1997 were the most dominant of all encountered species. In 1998, a new parasitoid species, C. phyllocnistoides, expanded to all citrus growing orchards in the region, becoming the most abundant parasitoid species between 1998 and 2001. The parasitization rate was very low during the main peak of the pest in early summer, but increased considerably later in the season. It is determined that these parasitoids play a significant role in reducing the P. citrella population during the late summer and autumn flushes.

Keywords

Phyllocnistis citrella, citrus leafminer, biological control, parasitoid, relative abundance

First Page

155

Last Page

160

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