Indigenous parasitoids (Hym., Chalcidoidea) of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lep., Gracillariidae) in Jaguariuna, Sao Paulo State, Brazil: preliminary results

The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, is native to Asia an d was detected for the first time in Brazil in 1996. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of parasitoids attacking citrus leafminer i n Jaguariuna, one of the citrus production regions of Sao Paulo State, Braz il, and to determine whether indigenous species were providing effective co ntrol of this pest species. The collections of new leaves were made weekly at citrus groves in Jaguariuna from October 1996 to October 1997. Of the si x indigenous parasitoids which were found, Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle was the most abundant parasitoid of P. citrella in this region, accounting for more than 90% of the specimens collected. Thus, this species is a serious c andidate for biological control of the citrus leafminer in this region of B razil. Other species collected were Horismenus sp., Cirrospilus 'sp. C', El asmus sp., Eupelmus sp. and Conura (Ceratosmicra) sp. The mean percentage o f parasitism was 39.28% (6.19 - 86.21%) in unsprayed orchards and 21.38% (1 .33 - 56.63%) in orchards that were occasionally treated with fungicides, a caricides and insecticides Temik and Dipterex.