Interspecific competition between Anagyrus pseudococci and Leptomastix dactylopii, parasitoids of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus

Abstract

Interspecific competition among parasitoids plays a key role in the population dynamics of insect pests and may affect the outcome of biological control programs. The aim of this study was to examine competition between two parasitoids, Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) and Leptomastix dactylopii Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) under laboratory conditions. The mealybug was parasitized by both parasitoid species at the same time (within 2 h) or sequentially at 24, 48 or 72 h intervals. When mealybug were parasitized at the same time by both parasitoids, the emergence rate from the host was 68.63 % for L. dactylopii and 31.37 % for A. pseudococci. The emergence rate of females was higher than that for males, but the duration of development of males was shorter than for females in both species. When A. pseudococci had parasitism priority for 24 h, there was no difference between the emergence rates of both parasitoids. When A. pseudococci had parasitism priority for 48 and 72 h, the emergence rates of A.pseudococi were 65 and 77.50 % respectively. Also, the duration of development of A. pseudococci was shorter than that of L. dactylopii for all three time intervals. When L. dactylopii had parasitism priority for 24 and 48 h, there was no difference between the emergence rates of both parasitoids. However, when L. dactylopii had parasitism priority for 72 h, the emergence rate of L. dactylopii was 94.83 %. Only when L. dactylopii had parasitism priority for 48 h, there was a difference between both parasitoids and the duration of development of A. pseudococci was shorter than for L. dactylopii. Consequently, it was found that competition may occur between L. dactylopii and A. pseudococci if they are used together to control P. ficus. Also, it was determined that the A. pseudococci population may be more affected than the L. dactylopii population by this competition.

Sustainable management of the vine mealybug in organic vineyards

“…may be more affected than L. dactylopii; in fact, when the latter had parasitism priority for 72 h, its emergence rate was approximately 95%, while parasitism priority by A. pseudococci s.l. led to an emergence rate of 77.5% (Muştu and Kilinçer 2015). Although inoculative releases of L. dactylopii in vineyards could affect the activity of A. pseudococci s.l., Muştu and Kilinçer (2015) believe that parasitoid combination might be more successful than single use of natural enemies.…”

“…led to an emergence rate of 77.5% (Muştu and Kilinçer 2015). Although inoculative releases of L. dactylopii in vineyards could affect the activity of A. pseudococci s.l., Muştu and Kilinçer (2015) believe that parasitoid combination might be more successful than single use of natural enemies.…”

Türkiye’de meyve ağaçlarında ekonomik zarar meydana getiren Pseudococcid’ler (Hemiptera) ve doğal düşmanları

“…Türkiye'de meyve ağaçlarındaki unlubit türlerinin doğal düşmanları Table 1. Natural enemies of mealybug species injurious in fruit trees in Türkiye Planococcus citri'nin doğal düşman türleri (Lodos 1982;Öncüer 1991;Kaydan et al 2006;Anonymous 2007;Demirci et al 2008;Japoshvili & Çelik 2010;Kılınçer et al 2010;Yayla 2010;Kurt & Karaca 2016;Birişik et al 2017 (Ülgentürk et al, 2002;Güleç et al, 2007;Demirci et al, 2008;Japoshvili & Çelik, 2010;Kaydan & Japoshvili, 2010;Muştu & Kılınçer, 2015;Anonymous, 2018;Japoshvili et al, 2018) (Ülgentürk et al, 2002;Kaydan, 2004;Ülgentürk et al, 2004;Kaydan et al, 2006;Japoshvili & Çelik, 2010;Yayla, 2010) Ülkemizde P.viburni ve N. nipae'nin doğal düşmanları ile ilgili herhangi bir çalışmaya rastlanılmamış olmakla birlikte, bu unlubit türlerinin doğal düşmanları olarak Nephus spp., C. montrouzieri, Scymnus spp., L. dactylopii ve Anagyrus spp. meyve bahçelerimizde bulunmaktadır (Anonymous, 2017d, h, k).…”

Host stage preference and demographic parameters of Leptomastix dactylopii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

“…Leptomastix dactylopii is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid. It prefers the 3rd nymph and young female stages of the host (Muştu and Kılınçer 2015). Although the homeland of L. dactylopii was previously thought to be Brazil (Compere 1939), recent studies reported that it might be originated from Africa (Kol-Maimon et al 2015).…”