The Citrus Leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)in South Texas: Incidence and Parasitism

The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was first reported in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in August, 1994. We surveyed about 40 orchards in 1995 and 20 in 1996. Percentage of leaf infestation by the leafminer was lowest on the spring flush, and increased significantly in the early summer (May-July) and late summer flushes (Aug.-Oct.) through to late fall (Nov.-Dec.). Numbers of citrus leafminer immatures usually ranged from 0-6.8 per leaf. Several native parasite species were identified from the surveys, including 9 species of parasites from 3 families, Eulophidae, Proctotrupidae and Ceraphronidae. The most abundant native parasitoid was Zagrammosoma multilineatum (Ashmead) (Eulophidae). Less dominant parasitoids were the eulophids Horismenus sp., Closterocerus sp., Neochrysocharis sp., Pnigalio sp., and Tetrastichus sp. Percentage parasitism by native parasitoids usually ranged from 5-10%. The exotic parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola Logvinoskaya (Encyrtidae) was released in February-April 1995 and August-October 1996.