Poster #114970

First report of Lemon Scent Eucalyptus burwelli Schauff & Garrison, 2000 (: ) from Uruguay

Carolina Jorge ([email protected])1,2, Gonzalo Martinez3, Sofia Simeto3, Gustavo Balmelli3 and Demian Gomez3,

1Centro Universitario de Tacuarembó. Universidad de la República., Tacuarembó, Uruguay, 2Universidade Estadual Pualista, Botucatu, Brazil, 3National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Tacuarembó, Uruguay

A significant increase in invasions on Eucalyptus and Corymbia commercial plantations has been observed in recent years worldwide. Gall-forming have reached great concern because of the risk they pose to young plantations. is an Australian microhymenopteran, which can induce galls on . Females oviposit on the epidermis of the leaf blade. After hatching, the larvae induce the development of small lens- shaped gall. It is a multivoltine species, completing one life cycle in approximately 75 days at field conditions. It is considered specific to C. citriodora. Attacked trees suffer a reduction in both the photosynthetic activity and the production of essential oils, one of the main products extracted from this species. Defoliation may occur in case of severe attack. Up to date, E. burwelli has been reported outside Australia in USA, Brazil and Argentina. The objective of this work was to report the presence of E. burwelli in Uruguay. Galls on C. citriodora leaves were detected in June 2015 in the departments of Treinta y Tres and Tacuarembó in Uruguay. After incubation, insects specimen emerged from galls were identified as E. burwelli by morphological traits examined under scanning electron microscope. We observed other individuals emerging from the galls belonging to Eulophidae and Mymaridae that remain to be identified at species level. Future studies should focus on the bio-ecology and distribution of E. burwelli in order to perform sanitary surveillance, minimize the expansion of this pest as well as to develop management strategies.