Parasitism of Eretmocerus gunturiensis on Aleurocanthus spiuiferus
Author of the article:WANG Feng-Di; LIU Meng-Yuan;SONG Da-Peng;JIA Zhi-Fei;DING Shi-Bo;XU Yong-Yu;CHEN Zhen-Zhen
Author's Workplace:College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; Rizhao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Rizhao 276800, China
Key Words:Eretmocerus gunturiensis; Aleurocanthus spiuiferus; Shandong tea garden; parasitic behavior
Abstract:
[Objectives] To clarify
the parasitic behavior of Eretmocerus gunturiensis, a newly discovered
natural enemy of Aleurocanthus spiuiferus in Shandong tea plantations,
and provide data to support the research and development of new,
environmentally-friendly control methods for tea pests. [Methods] The population dynamics of E.
gunturiensis were recorded using the sweep net and yellow sticky-board
methods. The morphological characteristics of E. gunturiensis were
observed using an ultra-depth of field electron microscope and the size of A.
spiuiferus pseudopupae after parasitism, were measured. The parasitism of E.
gunturiensis on A. spiuiferus was investigated using the canopy
sampling method. [Results] E.
gunturiensis larvae parasitize 2nd to 3rd instar nymphs of A. spiniferus.
The laying time of female adults lasts about 2 minutes, and the eggs are laid
between the abdomen of A. spiniferus and the leaves. E. gunturiensis bites the shell at the posterior of the pseudopupa of A. spiniferus with
its mouthparts during emergence, and resultant hole is round but irregular.
Parasitism by E. gunturiensis affects the size of A. spiniferus pseudopupae. The length and width of parasitized pseudopupae were significantly
shorter than those of the non-parasitized pseudopupae. The parasitism rate of E.
gunturiensis was significantly higher on leaves in the middle of a tea bush
than in the upper and lower bush. [Conclusion] E. gunturiensis is a newly
discovered natural enemy of A. spiniferus in Shandong tea plantations
and has the potential to be a useful biological control for this pest.