Development of Allotropa citri Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Anagyrus subalbipes Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

Allotropa citri can parasitize all stages of Pseudococcus cryptus. Under experimental conditions, however, no difference was observed in the percentage parasitism between the first and the second instar hosts, while parasitism on the third instar and adult female hosts was lower than on the first and second instars. No difference was observed in the developmental duration of this parasitoid between the first and the second instar hosts. Therefore, the first and second instar nymphs of P. cryptus were considered suitable host stages for the parasitoid. The lower developmental threshold temperature and thermal constant of A. citri for the first and second instar nymphs of P. cryptus were 10.1°C and 518.1 degree-days (DD), respectively. The lower developmental threshold temperatures and thermal constants of Anagyrus subalbipes females and males on P. cryptus adult females were 13.0°C and 234.2 DD, and 12.1°C and 245.5 DD, respectively. A. citri produced five generations and A. subalbipes seven generations in a year in the field of Nagasaki where the host produced four generations.