Biological control of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) in eucalyptus plantations

The genus Eucalyptus , native to Australia, is the host of psylloid insects such as the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei , a major Eucalyptus pest introduced into Brazil among other countries. The encyrtid Psyllaephagus bliteus is a primary parasitoid used in the biological control of G....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytoparasitica 2015-04, Vol.43 (2), p.151-157
Main Authors: Filho, Pedro José Ferreira, Wilcken, Carlos Frederico, Lima, Alexandre Coutinho Vianna, de Sá, Luiz Alexandre Nogueira, do Carmo, Janaina Braga, Guerreiro, Julio Cesar, Zanuncio, José Cola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Aphalaridae
Biological control
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Hemiptera
Insects
Life Sciences
Myrtaceae
Parasitism
Pest control
Plant Pathology
Plant resistance
Plant Sciences
Plantations
Trees
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Summary:The genus Eucalyptus , native to Australia, is the host of psylloid insects such as the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei , a major Eucalyptus pest introduced into Brazil among other countries. The encyrtid Psyllaephagus bliteus is a primary parasitoid used in the biological control of G. brimblecombei . This study aimed to determine the parasitism of G. brimblecombei by P. bliteus released in eucalyptus plantations. Investigations were carried out in a 19-ha eucalyptus plantation comprised of 9-year-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae) in the municipality of Luiz Antônio, São Paulo State, Brazil. Twenty P. bliteus pairs were released at five points in the study area between May and September 2006 and 2007 approximately every 20 days. For evaluation of parasitism, ten leaves per twig were randomly selected and unparasitized nymphs of G. brimblecombei , mummies (parasitized nymphs of G. brimblecombei ) and empty mummies (after emergence of P. bliteus adults) were counted on their abaxial and adaxial parts before and after each release of P. bliteus . The parasitism rates of G. brimblecombei in 2006 and 2007 were 0.21–5.92% and 0.28–7.03% in the control; these values rose to 28.28–78.57% and 30.32–79.34%, respectively, in areas involved in parasitoid release. Parasitism levels of G. brimblecombei nymphs in areas with P. bliteus release were affected by the environmental temperature, which is discussed as a potential limitation to the establishment of this parasitoid and to its effectiveness as a biological control agent.
ISSN:0334-2123
1876-7184
DOI:10.1007/s12600-014-0440-3