Greenhouses, Interiorscapes, and Conservatories Depends on L. dactylopii

Greenhouses, Interiorscapes, and Conservatories Depends on L. dactylopii

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Leptomastix dactylopii is a tiny parasitic wasp in the Family Encyrtidae that attacks the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). It does not reproduce well in other mealybug species. This wasp is a native of Brazil. It was introduced into the United States (California) and permanently established in 1934-35. L. dactylopii is used in augmentative biological control mostly in greenhouses, interiorscapes, and conservatories. It has also been used successfully in outdoor situations such as fruit plantations.

Adult female L. dactylopii are attracted to the odor of infested host-plants and of unparasitized mealybugs. They can "smell" which mealybugs have already been parasitized and avoid laying eggs in them. They prefer to lay eggs in third instar nymphs and young adult stages of citrus mealybug. They will occasionally attack second instars, but not egg-laying adults. Females can lay 60 to 100 eggs within a 10 to 14 day period. This species is a solitary endoparasitoid, meaning only a single wasp larva develops inside each mealybug. The eggs hatch in 1 1/2-2 days and the wasp larvae develop through four instars, each of which lasts about 2 days. The developing larva eventually turns the mealybug into a legless, brown, barrel-shaped mummy. After a 7-8 day pupal period, the emerging adult chews through the mummy and cuts an opening at one end......source