Development of Lysiphlebia japonica (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), a Parasitoid of Toxoptera citricida (Homoptera: Aphididae) at Five Temperatures

The brown citrus aphid (BrCA), Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy), a newly introduced pest of citrus, has become established in Florida. BrCA has shown the capacity not only to inflict direct feeding damage but also to transmit various strains of citrus tristeza virus. As a component of integrated pest management (IPM) against BrCA, an aphidiid parasitoid, Lysiphlebia japonica (Ashmead) was imported from Japan by USDA. In this study, the development of L. japonica was measured at five constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30C) using BrCA as a host. Development rate from oviposition to emergence of adult wasps increased linearly with increasing temperature between 10-25C. The developmental periods from oviposition to adult wasp emergence ranged from 29.7 d at 10C to 9.9 d at 25C. Developmental threshold and degree day (DD) requirement for development from oviposition to adult eclosion were 2.9C and 223.46 DD. The percentage of parasitism varied from 49.93-23.47% within the temperature range of 10-30C. Pupal survivorship and sex ratio decreased as temperature increased between 10-30C. Based on our data, this parasitoid is presumably more effective in control of BrCA in cooler months than in summer months.