Population Density of the Citrus Blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), and Its Parasites in Urban Florida in 1979 –1981

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Abstract
In 1976, the citrus blackfly (CBF), Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was detected in Fort Lauderdale (Broward County), and despite an intensive control program in 1977–1978, dispersal continued to new locations in Florida. In 1979, infestations were found in Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres (Lee County), Sun'N Lake (Highlands County), and Merritt Island-Cocoa (Brevard County). The population density of CBF in all locations was monitored in 1979 through 1981. Adult CBF reached a peak of 450 CBF per trap on 1 July 1980 at Fort Myers; 300 on 17 March 1980 at Sun'N Lake; 616 on 2 March 1981 at Lehigh Acres; and 681 on 3 december 1980 at Merritt Island-Cocoa. Parasites, Encarsia opulenta (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Amitus hesperidum Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), were established in 1980 and dramatically reduced the population of CBF at all infested locations in Florida: 0.6 CBF per trap in September and October 1981 at Merritt Island-Cocoa; 0 in May and June 1981 at Sun'N Lake; 0 in August–September 1981 at Fort Myers; and 24 on 29 September 1981 at Lehigh Acres. Encarsia smithi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a facultative hyperparasite of E. opulenta, was introduced accidentally into Florida during this time. E. opulenta and A. hesperidum coexisted, the former dominant, and kept CBF at extremely low numbers in Broward County during the study.

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