Status of biological control by egg parasitoids of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) in citrus in Florida and Puerto Rico

Eggs of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) were routinely monitored in citrus grove s at ten locations in Florida during 1997 and 1998 to study egg parasitism. One citrus location was studied in Puerto Rico. No native parasitoids were recovered from 1,337 D. abbreviatus egg masses studied in Florida citrus. In contrast, an average of 35.5% (range 12.5 to 68.8%) parasitism of egg ma sses was reported in Puerto Rico. The parasitoids Aprostocetus gain, Horism enus spp, and Quadrastichus haitiensis were recovered from the eggs of D. a bbreviatus studied in Puerto Rico. The Horismenus parasitoids were suspecte d hyperparasitoids. Releases of the parasitoid Ceratogramma etiennei from G uadeloupe were initiated during 1998 at each of the Florida research sites. By the end of 1998, C. etiennei had been recovered from D. abbreviatus egg s at two of nine locations in Florida citrus. The parasitoid was recovered from 1 of 34 egg masses at one of these locations during the month of Septe mber and from 3 of 34 egg masses at the other location during the month of November. Whether or not C, etiennei establishes itself at one or more loca tions in Florida remains to be seen.