And Its Parasitoids from the Genus Coccophagus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with Description of a New Species from Tamaulipas, México
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Myartseva et al.: Parasitoids of Parasaissetia nigra in Mexico 1015 PARASAISSETIA NIGRA (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE) AND ITS PARASITOIDS FROM THE GENUS COCCOPHAGUS (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE), WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM TAMAULIPAS, MÉXICO SVETLANA NIKOLAEVNA MYARTSEVA, ENRIQUE RUÍZ-CANCINO AND JUANA MARIA CORONADO-BLANCO* Facultad de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, 87149 Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico *Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT A list of parasitoids of the genus Coccophagus Westwood that parasitize the soft scale Para- saissetia nigra (Nietner), in the world, is given. Data on the biology of P. nigra in Mexico are presented. A key to species of Coccophagus associated to P. nigra in Mexico, including possible species of parasitoids, was prepared. A new species, Coccophagus minor Myartseva sp. nov., reared from P. nigra on mistletoe, Phoradendron quadrangulare (Kunth) Griseb., growing over leaves and shoots of huisache, Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., in Tamaulipas, Mexico, is described. Key Words: Phoradendron quadrangulare, mistletoe, Acacia farnesiana; Coccophagus RESUMEN Se elaboró una lista de parasitoides del género Coccophagus Westwood que parasitan la escama blanda Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) a nivel mundial. Se presentan datos de la biología de P. nigra en México. Se preparó una clave de especies de Coccophagus asociados a P. nigra en México, incluyendo posibles especies parasitoides de la plaga. Se describe la nueva especie Coccophagus minor Myartseva sp. nov., emergida de P. nigra en el muérdago Phoradendron quadrangulare (Kunth) Griseb. sobre hojas y ramitas de huizache Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. en Tamaulipas, México. Palabras Clave: Phoradendron quadrangulare, muérdago, Acacia farnesiana, Coccopha- gus Soft scales of the family Coccidae (Hemip- Parasaissetia nigra is polyphagous, feeding on tera: Coccoidea) are phytophagous insects that host plants from 80 families (Ben-Dov 1993), es- infest leaves, branches and fruits of various pecially on ornamental plants of tropical origin. plants. Some species are pests of agricultural Several agricultural crops are attacked, includ- crops, for example, Saissetia oleae Olivier and ing avocado, citrus, coffee, cotton, guava, mango, Coccus hesperidum L. (Hayat 1997; Stauffer & pomegranate and other plants. Scales often in- Roaw 1997). On the other hand, they are host fest heavily leaves, branches and fruits (Clausen for parasitic wasps that belong predominantly 1978; Hamon & Williams 1984). to 9 genera of Chalcidoidea. Among these, spe- These scales produce copious, sticky honeydew cies of 4 genera, including Coccophagus West- on which sooty moulds develop, coating the plant. wood, are primary endoparasitoids and have This restricts photosynthesis, weakening the economic importance for biocontrol of hemip- plant and sometimes stunning new growth and teran pests (Hayat 1998). causing defoliation (Smith 1944). Parasaissetia Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) belongs to the nigra is a moderate pest of ornamental plants, family Coccidae and has worldwide distribu- particularly in tropical countries. The scale is also tion (Noyes 2012a). It was described by Nietner a minor pest of citrus and of other agricultural in 1861 from Ceylon and has many synonyms crops and, at times, has been an important pest and various combinations (Ben-Dov et al. 2013). (Smith 1944). Smith (1944) suggested that several strains of P. In Mexico, this soft scale is widely distributed nigra may exist, each with different host prefer- in the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Co- ences, or there may be several geographical races lima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, (De Lotto 1967). Hayat (1997) noted that the Af- Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, rotropical region is richer in Coccophagus species Queretaro, Sinaloa and Sonora (Miller 1996). parasitizing P. nigra and also has more endemic Parasaissetia nigra was newly recorded for the species. states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi; in 1016 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014 Tamaulipas it was collected in 2012, and accord- dendron, but not on Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., ing to our investigations, in San Luis Potosi it was Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Salix humboldtiana found earlier (Myartseva 2006). Despite its wide Willd. and Prosopis glandulosa Torr., which have distribution, polyphagy and economic importance been reported as host plants of this species. In as potential pest of agricultural crops, morpho- Mexico, P. nigra was recorded as pest of guava logical and biological descriptions are lacking in (Ben-Dov 1978). Moreover, parasitoids were ob- the Mexican scientific literature. This article pro- tained only from P. nigra on huisache Acacia vides a morphological description of P. nigra and farnesiana (L.) Willd. in the State of Tamaulipas. its parasitoids based in the literature and based on our own observations. Families of parasitoids of Parasaissetia nigra MATERIALS AND METHODS Parasitoids from several families of Chalci- doidea have been reported as natural enemies of Infested leaves and twigs with soft scales of sev- P. nigra in the world: Encyrtidae, Aphelinidae, eral plants were found and examined in the field Eulophidae, Eupelmidae and Pteromalidae. In using a magnifying pocket lens (10X), and later Peru, the dominant parasitoid species in agro- transferred to the laboratory to be examined un- ecosystems belong to 3 families: Encyrtidae, der a Leica MZ6 microscope (140X). Collection and Aphelinidae and Pteromalidae (Núñez 2008). In rearing of parasitoids were carried out following many countries where it was once a pest, P. nigra methodologies by Noyes (1982). Leaves and twigs is now successfully controlled by natural enemies were placed separately in glass containers until originally introduced to control Saissetia oleae emergence of parasitoids. For further examination (Bartlett 1978). For example, the most effective and identification reared adult parasitoids were control agent of P. nigra in California (USA), is mounted on microscope slides with Canada balsam. an encyrtid Metaphycus helvolus (Compere), that The species of soft scale was identified by Dr. I. A. was introduced with several other enemies to Gavrilov-Zimin, specialist in scale insects from the control S. oleae, which has been more effective Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of against P. nigra (Ebeling 1959). Russia, Saint Petersburg. All materials are pre- In Mexico, we reared from P. nigra parasitoids served in the Insects Museum of the Universidad from 6 families: Encyrtidae, Aphelinidae, Eu- Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Mexico. This insect col- pelmidae, Eulophidae, Pteromalidae and Signi- lection has 195 specimens of Coccophagus on slides phoridae, but the encyrtid and aphelinid species and numerous specimens in 75% alcohol. were the most dominant. This is the first record of Signiphoridae as parasitoids of P. nigra. The RESULTS AND DISCUSSION main parasitoids in the family Aphelinidae are species of the genus Coccophagus Westwood. Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Adult female is elongate-oval, shiny, dark Coccophagus spp.—parasitoids of Parasaissetia nigra brown, 3-4 mm long. Body shape varies according to the substrate, specimens found on leaves are Species of the genus Coccophagus are mainly broad, only slightly convex but much more con- parasitoids of soft scales (Coccidae), but rarely vex than those on stems or leaf-mid-ribs, which parasitize armored scales (Diaspididae) and other are elongate and less convex. Immature stages Coccoidea. In the world, the genus Coccophagus and young adult specimens of P. nigra are trans- consists of 257 species (Noyes 2012a), some of lucent-yellow and sometimes mottled (Hamon & which are widely distributed. In the family Aph- Williams 1984). elinidae, Coccophagus is the second most speci- In California and Florida, P. nigra has 1 com- ose genus after Encarsia Foerster. Coccophagus plete generation per year outdoors (Gill 1988). is divided into 6 species-groups: lycimnia-group, Ben-Dov (1978) recorded up to 6 generations per pseudococci-group, varius-group, malthusi-group, year in greenhouses in Israel. In Tamaulipas, ochraceus-group and zebratus-group (Hayat 1997). Mexico, from Oct 2012 to Jun 2013, we observed Females of this genus have 8-segmented an- the development of at least 2 complete genera- tenna; mandible with 1 or 2 teeth and a trunca- tions of P. nigra on mistletoe Phoradendron spp. tion; pronotum entire, medially sometimes nar- (Santalales: Santalaceae) near Rio San Marcos in row; mid lobe of mesoscutum with numerous Ciudad Victoria. Upon hatching, the first instar short setae; axillae large, strongly projecting for- nymphs (crawlers) move away from the female wards, with at least 2 setae, rarely more to about to other parts of the plant, where they fix them- as densely setose; Each side lobe with 4 or more selves and start feeding. setae, rarely less; scutellum large, usually convex, It is interesting that in natural landscapes in not overlapping propodeum, either with 3 pairs of Tamaulipas, scale colonies developed on mistle- setae or several additional setae to densely setose; toes, hemiparasitic plants from the genus Phora- propodeum either medially membranous or with Myartseva et al.: Parasitoids of Parasaissetia nigra in Mexico 1017 a triangular median projection: fore wing large, 2012a). An analysis of the lists of species distributed broad, densely setose, with short marginal fringe; in some large regions