Several parasitoid wasps, mainly from Eulophidae and Chalcididae families, have been registered acting upon the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, 1856 populations, one of the most important citrus pest worldwide. The present work aimed to identify the parasitoid complex of P. citrella in two citrus orchards, located in Montenegro, RS: one of the Montenegrina cultivar and the other of the hybrid tangor Murcott. In fortnightly samplings from July 2001 to June 2003, all the buds of randomly rafted plants were inspected. All the leaves, with pupae of P. citrella, were collected and individually maintained in Petri dishes until the emergence of parasitoids or adults of P. citrella. In the first year, 101 parasitoid individuals of the genus Elasmus Westwood, 1833, Cirrospilus Westwood, 1832, Sympiesis Förster, 1856 and Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle, 1997 (Eulophidae) were obtained. Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya, 1983 (Encyrtidae) was registered only in the 'Murcott' orchard. This species was intentionally introduced in nearby orchards for the leafminer control. In the second year, a total of 609 parasitoid individuals were sampled, and A. citricola was also registered in the 'Montenegrina' area. With the introduction and establishment of the exotic species in the orchards, occurred a great change in the species relative frequency. Ageniaspis citricola represented more than 75% of the individuals occurring in both orchards in the second year, and the relative frequency of the native species decreasing. Studies on the community of natural enemies associated to the citrus leafminer, and on the actual impact that the exotic species cause on the native ones are necessary before taking any measure of control.
Citrus leafminer; parasitoid; Hymenoptera; biological control; Eulophidae
