Parasitoids of the eucalyptus gall wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in China.

Xia-Lin Zheng,Wen Lu,Zong-You Huang,Dan Dong,Chun-Hui Guo,Jun Li,Xiu-Hao Yang,Zhen-De Yang

doi:10.1051/parasite/2016071

Abstract

Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) is an invasive pest in Eucalyptus plantations throughout the world. Potential biological control agents for L. invasa were investigated in the Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Sichuan provinces of China, where Eucalyptus spp. have been severely damaged by the eucalyptus gall wasp. Three hymenopteran parasitoids of L. invasa were identified: Quadrastichus mendeli Kim & La Salle (Eulophidae), Aprostocetus causalis La Salle & Wu (Eulophidae), and Megastigmus viggianii Narendran & Sureshan (Torymidae); M. viggianii is newly recorded in China. The percentages of parasitization by Q. mendeli, A. causalis, and M. viggianii were 2.96%–19.53%, 2.30%–26.38%, and 24.93%, respectively. The longevity and body length of females were significantly greater than for males in A. causalis and M. viggianii. No males of Q. mendeli were found in China. These parasitoids could be used as biological agents for L. invasa in China.

Highlights

Eucalyptus is one of the three major fast-growing tree species worldwide, which plays important roles in reforestation and the production of timber, pulp, potential bioenergy feedstock, and other forest products [25]
Three hymenopteran parasitoid species were found in L. invasa collected from Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Sichuan provinces: Q. mendeli, A. causalis, and Megastigmus viggianii Narendran & Sureshan (Hymenoptera: Torymidae); M. viggianii is newly recorded in China (Table 1; Figs. 3–5)
Quadrastichus mendeli is one of the indigenous parasitoids parasitizing L. invasa in Australia [15], with the percentage of parasitization varying from 7.9% to 95.6%

Summary

Introduction

Eucalyptus is one of the three major fast-growing tree species worldwide, which plays important roles in reforestation and the production of timber, pulp, potential bioenergy feedstock, and other forest products [25]. The eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), originating from Australia, is a global pest in Eucalyptus plantations [18]. A recent study based on molecular and phylogenetic analyses suggested the occurrence of geographical variability in L. invasa populations and the existence of different putative species, among them a ‘‘Chinese lineage’’ [20]. Sylvicultural control is largely ad hoc and is unlikely to represent a viable long-term solution against an increasing number and diverse range of damaging invasive pests. Biological control is considered an attractive alternative to other control methods due to its ecological and economic benefits [4]

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Conclusion