This article was downloaded by:[USDA National Agricultural Library] On: 27 March 2008 Access Details: [subscription number 777121053] Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Biocontrol Science and Technology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713409232 No-choice host range tests for Allotropa sp. near mecrida, a parasitoid of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) William J. Roltsch a; Lawrence R. Ertle b; Dale E. Meyerdirk c a California Department of Food & Agriculture, Biological Control Program, Sacramento, CA, USA b US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory, Newark, DE, USA c US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Pest Detection and Management Programs, MD, USA Online Publication Date: 01 January 2007 To cite this Article: Roltsch, William J., Ertle, Lawrence R. and Meyerdirk, Dale E. (2007) 'No-choice host range tests for Allotropa sp. near mecrida, a parasitoid of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)', Biocontrol Science and Technology, 17:9, 977 - 981 To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/09583150701661661 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583150701661661 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2007; 17(9): 977Á981 SHORT COMMUNICATION No-choice host range tests for Allotropa sp. near mecrida, a parasitoid of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) WILLIAM J. ROLTSCH1, LAWRENCE R. ERTLE2,& DALE E. MEYERDIRK3 1California Department of Food & Agriculture, Biological Control Program, Sacramento, CA, USA, 2US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory, Newark, DE, USA, and 3US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Pest Detection and Management Programs, MD, USA (Received 28 August 2006; returned 19 March 2007; accepted 16 July 2007) Downloaded By: [USDA National Agricultural Library] At: 17:12 27 March 2008 Abstract Host range studies of the parasitoid Allotropa sp. near mecrida (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) were conducted prior to applying for a permit to release it against the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), in southern California. Using M. hirsutus as a control, four mealybug species were tested as potential hosts. Allotropa sp. near mecrida did not successfully reproduce in any of the mealybug species tested, except for the target species, M. hirsutus. The parasitoid was found to host feed upon one of the non-target species within the confined test environment. Subsequently a USDA-APHIS importation and release permit was granted. Keywords: Parasitoid, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Allotropa mecrida, host range, non-target host, biological control Allotropa sp. near mecrida (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) was collected in southern Egypt in 2000 for importation into the desert climate of Imperial Valley, California for biological control of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Gonza´lez et al. 2003). This was part of a cooperative effort, to develop a biological control program against M. hirsutus following its invasion into this region of California, where its presence in the Correspondence: W. J. Roltsch, California Department of Food & Agriculture, Biological Control Program, 3288 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95832, USA. Tel: 1 916 262 2055. E-mail: wroltsch@cdfa. ca.gov ISSN 0958-3157 print/ISSN 1360-0478 online # 2007 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/09583150701661661 978 W. J. Roltsch et al. continental United States was first recognized in August of 1999 (Roltsch et al. 2006). To assist in the USDA-APHIS importation and release permit approval process, host range studies were conducted to characterize this parasitoid’s level of host range specificity. Mealybug species used in this test included the long-tailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti), obscure mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink, and solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. These species were selected because they represent several genera, with the exception of the papaya mealybug, that are resident species in California. The solenopsis mealybug represents a commonly found native species in Imperial Valley. The primary culture of the parasitoid was held in quarantine at the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine, Mission Plant Protection Center in Edinburg, TX, USA. The evaluations were conducted by the second author at the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Laboratory in Newark, DE, USA, where research cultures of the pink hibiscus mealybug and A. sp. near mecrida were maintained. The papaya mealybug and pink hibiscus mealybug cultures were maintained on site (i.e. Newark, DE). Both species originated from field collected material and confirmed by D. R. Miller of the USDA-ARS, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Washington, DC. Arrangements were made to send the remaining three mealybug species from remote laboratory cultures for testing, including the University of California, Berkeley, and USDA-APHIS, Brawley, CA. Cultures of obscure and long-tailed mealybugs had been maintained for 2 years and 4 months, respectively, at the University of California. These two species were identified by K.M. Daane, Downloaded By: [USDA National Agricultural Library] At: 17:12 27 March 2008 University of California, Berkeley, using field diagnostic characteristics as described in Godfrey et al. (2002), and in greater detail using characters stated by Miller et al. (1984). The obscure mealybug had been identified at an earlier date from the same collection site by R. J. Gill, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento. The solenopsis mealybug had been reared for approximately three generations prior to their use in this study. This species was identified by R. J. Gill. Arrangements were also made to send additional A. sp. near mecrida from the USDA-APHIS Edinburg, TX facility to be used in testing, as the research culture was not always sufficiently productive at times when mealybug species were available for testing. Specimens of A. sp. near mecrida were previously sent by the quarantine facility in Mission, Texas for identification (and voucher retention) to the USDA- ARS, Systematics Entomology Laboratory. The pink hibiscus mealybug culture upon which A. sp. near mecrida was maintained at the USDA-ARS facility in Newark, DE, was reared on potato sprouts in a dark room at approximately 20Á228C. With the exception of tests involving the solenopsis mealybug, each replicate was prepared within a 473-mL cardboard cup with a clear plastic lid to which honey was applied. To each, 50Á70 second to third instar mealybugs on potato sprouts were exposed to this parasitoid for 10 days. Based on study results for other Allotropa species, these life stages were the most likely to be attacked by A. sp. near mecrida (Clancy 1944; Mani & Krishnamoorthy 1989). In addition, several fresh potato sprouts were added to sustain mealybugs over the duration of the trial. Five female and five male parasitoids were used in each replicate. In some instances when host material was limited, 20Á30 mealybugs were used per Host range tests for Allotropa 979 replicate. Under these circumstances, two female and two male parasitoids were tested in a replicate. The number of replications ranged from 20 for the solenopsis mealybug to 46 for long-tailed mealybug (Table I). At the time of initial setup, observations of parasitoid activity were made through cup lids for 90 min. Subsequently, observations were made for 10 min on each day. After completion of the designated exposure period (10 days), all parasitoids were accounted for (designated as alive or dead) and removed from the cartons. From day 10 to 25, all replicates were examined every 5 days. Observations were recorded regarding the apparent health status and pre- dominant mealybug life stages present. On day 35, all replicates were examined for the last time and emerged parasitoids counted. Because all test species were