EGG AGE PREFERENCE AND WINDOW OF SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HOMALODISCA COAGULATA EGGS TO ATTACK BY GONATOCERUS ASHMEADI AND G. TRIGUTTATUS

• Author(s): Hoddle, Mark; Irvin, Nic;
• Abstract: Understanding the reproductive biology of natural enemies is essential if observed outcomes in the field are to be explained accurately. Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault and G. triguttatus Girault both attack glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata [Say] eggs, however it is not known whether they compete for host eggs of the same age, what egg ages are most preferred by females of each species, and which species would be most beneficial for GWSS control. G. triguttatus is associated with GWSS in Mexico and Texas and is now being released in limited numbers in Riverside County and elsewhere in California to combat GWSS. G. ashmeadi is native to California. Determining the egg age preference of this species will also be valuable in maximizing production for parasitoid releases. Therefore, the following experiments were conducted to determine GWSS egg age preference and the window of susceptibility of eggs to attack by G. ashmeadi and G. triguttatus. Results presented here are for G. ashmeadi and are for egg age categories 1, 5 and 10 days of age. Replicates for 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 days of age have been set up for both species, however, data is still being collected and analyzed. This will be completed and presented at the December 2001 Pierces Disease Control Program Symposium.
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium