skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Fortuitous establishment of Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Jamaica on the citrus leafminer (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Journal Article · · Florida Entomologist
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Entomology and Nematology, P.O. Box 110620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 (United States)
  2. Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), 2 Belmopan Close, UWI Mona Campus, Kingston 7 (Jamaica)

These data indicate that the population of A. citricola in Jamaica probably originated from the Australian (Thailand), rather than from the Taiwan, population. This is consistent with what is currently known about the origin of the established Ageniaspis population in Florida (Alvarez 2000). It is not known when, or how, A. citricola arrived in Jamaica, although the CLM was detected there in 1994. The fortuitous establishment of A. citricolaon the CLM in Jamaica is not the only such establishment of a natural enemy discovered during this 2004 survey of citrus. The parasitoid Lipolexis oregmae Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) was found attacking the brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Hoy et al., unpublished data), and the eulophid parasitoid Tamarixia radiata Waterston was found attacking the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). The fact that 3 natural enemies of 3 invasive citrus pests were found in Jamaica, none of which were purposefully imported and released, suggests that pest-infested citrus trees were imported into Jamaica without going through appropriate quarantine procedures. Because each pest arrived at different times, the parasitoids probably arrived at different times, as well. This indicates that an analysis is needed to identify the critical control points within those services in Jamaica that support border protection, and that procedures may require strengthening. (author)

OSTI ID:
20942940
Journal Information:
Florida Entomologist, Vol. 90, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); DOI: 10.1653/0015-4040(2007)90[271:FEOACH]2.0.CO;2; Refs, 1 tab; ISSN 0015-4040
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English