Fairyfly egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) of the invasive lace bug Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) in Japan

Abstract

The fairyfly Anagrus (Anagrus) virginiae Triapitsyn and Puttler (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is identified as a principal egg parasitoid of the chrysanthemum lace bug Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) in Japan on Solidago altissima L., Solidago sp., and Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae), and on sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck (Convolvulaceae). Both C. marmorata and Solidago spp. as well as Bidens pilosa are invasive in Japan, so it is very likely that A. virginiae was unintentionally introduced and established in the country either with or after the introduction of its insect host. Both sexes of A. virginiae are redescribed and illustrated with digital images based on Japanese specimens to facilitate their recognition, and an updated key to females of Anagrus Haliday species in Japan is given to include A. virginiae and the recently recorded leafhopper egg parasitoid A. (Anagrus) turpanicus Triapitsyn and Hu. In Japan, C. marmorata is a pest of eggplant, Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae), pepino or sweet cucumber, Solanum muricatum Aiton, sweet potato, and other crops, so potential for classical biological control against this lace bug is discussed. One male specimen of another fairyfly, Erythmelus (Parallelaptera) sp., was also reared from an egg of C. marmorata, the first such record from this lace bug host.