Citrus Mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) on Greenhouse Citrus: Density-dependent Regulation by an Encyrtid Parasite Complex

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Abstract
Inoculative release of five encyrtid parasites, Leptomastidea abnormis (Girault), Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault), Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, Chrysoplatycerus Splendens (Howard), and Pauridia peregrina Timberlake, resulted in rapid suppression of citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), on greenhouse citrus. Several parasites, Leptomastidea abnormis, A. pseudococci, and Leptomastix dactylopii, persisted for periods >20 weeks and maintained the host at reduced densities through delayed density-dependent regulation. The impact of regulation was demonstrated through experimental parasite exclusion: P. citri cohorts exposed to searching parasites for ca. 8 weeks declined ca. 90.0%, whereas cohorts protected from parasites increased 828.3%. Relevance of natural enemy regulation theory to development of applied biological control strategies for P. citri and other greenhouse pests is discussed.

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