Population fluctuation of Phyllocnistis citrella and its parasi-toids in two citrus species in Western Crete (Greece)

Population fluctuation, percentage of parasitism and parasitoid species composition of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were studied in a citrus orchard with orange and mandarin trees in Chania (Greece), in 1999, three years after the release of the in-troduced parasitoids Citrostichus phyllocnistoides (Narayanan), Quadrastichus sp., Semielacher petiolatus (Girault), Cirrospilus quadristriatus (Subba Rao and Ramamani) and Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya. Results showed that significantly more P. citrella individuals per leaf were recorded on orange than on mandarin trees. Regarding the parasitoid complex composition, the exotic species C. phyllocnistoides, S. petiolatus and Quadrastichus sp., as well as the natives Pnigalio pectinicornis L. and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) were recorded. Among them, C. phyllocnistoides was the most abundant, followed by S. petiolatus. The average percentage of parasitism reached 17% and 22% on orange and mandarin, respectively.

Data on phenology, parasitism and control of citrus leaf miner, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), in Greece

Research was conducted to determine whether Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) has any preference in attacking either the upper or the lower surface of the leaves of citrus trees. This investigation took place during the year 1999 at Marathon (Attica, Central Greece) while studying the dispersal of P. citrella on the leaves of three different types of citrus trees. Data on the overwintering and parasitism of P. citrella from different areas in Greece are also presented during the years 1999-2002. In addition, the effect of P. citrella infestation on imidacloprid-treated and untreated tangerine trees was comparatively studied. The parasitoids collected were Pnigalio sp. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), Cirrospilus sp. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Citrostichus phyllocnistoides (Narayanan) (Hym., Eulophidae).