Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synchrony and impact ofAmitus hesperidum [Hym.: Platygasteridae] on its host,Aleurocanthus woglumi [Hym.: Aleyrodidae] in southern Florida

  • Published:
Entomophaga Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The synchrony of the citrus blackfly (CBF)Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby and its parasitoidAmitus hesperidum Silvestri was studied in southern Florida.A. hesperidum adults emerge from 4th instar nymphs 160–300 thermal units after CBF adults. This insured excellent temporal synchronization between the parasitoids and the early CBF instars they prefer since egg to 3rd instar nymph in CBF takes 380 thermal units. AlthoughA. hesperidum parasitized only 29% of the surviving 4th instar CBF, it was the factor responsible for the observed decline in the CBF population level in southern Florida.

Résumé

La coïncidence de la mouche noire des citrus,Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby et de son parasitoïde,Amitus hesperidum Silvestri a été étudiée en Floride mérioionale. Les imagos deA. hesperidum sortent des larves du 4e stade de l’aleurode quand il y a eu 160 à 300 unités thermiques après la sortie des aleurodes adultes. Ce phénomène assure une excellente coïncidence temporelle entre les parasitoïdes et les premiers stades de l’aleurode, qu’ils préfèrent, puisque le développement depuis l’œuf jusqu’au 3e stade de l’aleurode demande 380 unités thermiques. Bien qu’A. hesperidum parasite seulement 29% des aleurodes du 4e stade survivant, il a constitué le facteur responsable de la réduction du niveau de population de l’aleurode observé en Floride méridionale.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cherry, R. H. — 1979. Lethal temperatures of citrus blackflyAleurocanthus woglumi [Hom.: Aleyrodidae] and its parasite,Amitus hesperidum [Hym.: Platygasteridae]. —Entomophaga, 24, 35–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz, H. F. & Zetek, J. — 1920. The blackfly of citrus and other tropical plants. —U.S.D.A. Bull. Tech., 885, 55 pp.

  • Dowell, R. V. &Fitzpatrick, G. E. — 1978. Effects of temperature on growth and survivorship of the citrus blackfly. —Can. Entomol., 110, 1347–1350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowell, R. V., Reinert, J. A. &Fitzpatrick, G. E. — 1978. Development and survivorship ofAleurocanthus woglumi Ashby on six citrus hosts. —Environ. Entomol., 7, 524–525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enkerlin, D. W. — 1974. Some aspects of the citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby) in Mexico. —Proc. Tall Timbers Conf. Ecol. Anim. Cont. Habitat Mgmt., 6, 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzpatrick, G. E., Cherry, R. H. &Dowell, R. V. — 1978. Short-term effects of three insecticides on predators and parasites of the citrus blackfly. —Environ. Entomol., 7, 553–555.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flanders, S. W. — 1969.Herbert Smith’s observations on citrus blackfly parasites in India and Mexico and the correlated circumstances. —Can. Entomol., 101, 467–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, K. J. — 1969. The importance of coincidence in the functional and numerical responses of two parasites of the European sawfly,Neodiprion sertifer. —Can. Entomol., 101, 673–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, W. G., Selhime, A., Harlan, D. P., Ingle, S. J., Sanchez, R. M., Rhode, R. H., Garcia, C. A., Caballero, J. &Garcia, R. L. — 1978. The introduction and establishment of parasites of citrus blackfly,Aleurocanthus woglumi in Florida. —Entomophaga, 23, 361–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newell, W. &Brown, A. C. — 1939. Eradication of the citrus blackfly in Key West, Fla. —J. Econ. Entomol., 32, 680–682.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quezada, J. R. — 1974. Biological control ofAleurocanthus woglumi [Homoptera: Aleyrodidae] in El Salvador. —Entomophaga, 19, 143–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinert, J. A. — 1976. Citrus blackfly control by foliar treatments of dooryard citrus. —Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc., 89, 365–366.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, H. H. — 1949. Present status of the citrus blackfly and its parasiteEretmocerus serius at Nassau, Bahamas. —J. Econ. Entomol., 41, 980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H. D., Maltby, H. L. & Jimenez, J. E. — 1964. Biological control of the citrus blackfly in Mexico. —U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull., 1311, 29 pp.

  • Southwood, T. R. E. — 1975. Ecological Methods. — Chapman & Hall, London, 391 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Center, 3205 S.W. 70th Avenue, 33314, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, USA

    R. V. Dowell

Authors
  1. R. V. Dowell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1167.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dowell, R.V. Synchrony and impact ofAmitus hesperidum [Hym.: Platygasteridae] on its host,Aleurocanthus woglumi [Hym.: Aleyrodidae] in southern Florida. Entomophaga 24, 221–227 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374235

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374235

Keywords

Search

Navigation