Tiny wasp helps protect eucalypts from eucalyptus longhorned borer

Abstract

The eucalypt [Eucalyptus sp.] longhorned borer [Phoracantha semipunctata] was first identified in California in 1984. A search for natural enemies in Australia yielded the egg parasitoid Avetianella longoi. This parasitoid was imported into the USA and released in California during summer 1993. Parasitized eggs were found during autumn 1993 and adult parasitoids were observed in spring 1994. Further releases were made during 1994 and 1995 at sites where the parasitoid had failed to establish. Egg batches and eggs of P. semipunctata collected from the field were observed to have high rates of parasitism.