SEARCH FOR AND COLLECT EGG PARASITOIDS OF GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER IN SOUTHEASTERN USA AND NORTHEASTERN MEXICO

• Author(s): Hoddle, Mark; Triapitsyn, Serguei; Berezovskiy, Vladimir; Brlansky, Ronald; Cancino, Enrique; III, Russell; Jones, Walker; Morgan, David; Myartseva, Svetlana; Simmons, Gregory; Yanega, Douglas;
• Abstract: Observations in northeastern Mexico and Texas in 1999 and 2000 revealed presence of Homalodisca coagulata (Say) (GWSS) there, but in extremely low densities during winter and spring months (Coronado-Blanco et al. 2000; Triapitsyn & Phillips 2000; Triapitsyn et al. in press). Almost all egg masses of GWSS and other related sharpshooters, such as Oncometopia spp., were heavily parasitized. The climate in central part of Tamaulipas, Mexico, is very similar to one in the valleys of southern California, particularly Temecula. Earlier surveys in Florida and Louisiana revealed several species of GWSS egg parasitoids there; some of those species do not occur in California (Triapitsyn et al. 1998). As a result of the collections made in northeastern Mexico during 2000, quarantine and insectary colonies of three species, Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault, G. morrilli (Howard), and G. triguttatus Girault (Mymaridae), were established in UC Riverside quarantine and insectary (Morgan et al. 2000; Triapitsyn et al. in press) and later propagated and released against GWSS in California by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Unfortunately, due to unavailability of the host material (i.e., GWSS eggs) during the winter of 2000-2001, the California colonies of G. triguttatus and other exotic parasitoids were discontinued.
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium