SEASONAL POPULATION DYNAMICS OF GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER EGG PARASITOIDS: VARIABILITY ACROSS SITES AND HOST PLANTS

• Author(s): Morse, Joseph; Lytle, Jonathan; Morgan, David;
• Abstract: The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has a number of sites in southern California where they are releasing egg parasitoids of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS; Homalodisca vitripennis; formerly H. coagulata). To date, species released include Gonatocerus ashmeadi, G. fasciatus, G. walkerjonesi, and G. triguttatus. Very recently, two new species, G. morrilli (first released at our sites 5/2/06) and a strain of Anagrus epos from Minnesota (first released at our sites 5/17/06) have been released. We recently recovered G. morrilli (on 8/22/06) but not yet Anagrus epos (A. epos). CDFA monitors for parasitoid establishment and population dynamics at release sites. This project is intended to complement and expand the scope of this monitoring with an eye towards improving our understanding of the benefit of releasing alternative parasitoid species and how well they are surviving, dispersing, and impacting GWSS populations in southern California.
• Publication Date: Nov 2006
• Journal: 2006 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium