[Edited_by_A._Ciancio,_C.N.R.,_Bari,_Italy_and_K.(Bookos.org)

CLASSICAL AND CONSERVATION BIOCONTROL
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Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) [introduced in 1977
against Aphis gossypii Glover and A. spiraecola Pagenstecher (Hemiptera:
Aphididae)], are considered nowadays key natural enemies in Spanish citrus
orchards (Urbaneja et al., 2008).
3. AUGMENTATION VERSUS INOCULATION
A few IBCAs primarily introduced in classical BC programs, namely the parasitoids
Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Leptomastix dactylopii
(Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) failed to satisfactorily establish in Spain and
consequently do not usually reach numbers high enough to naturally regulate their
target pests below economic thresholds (Table 2).
Table 3. IBCAs used in augmentative BC strategies in Spanish citrus orchards and nurseries.
Natural enemy Target pest Strategy
Cryptolaemus
montrouzieri
Leptomastix
dactylopii,
Anagyrus
pseudococci
Aphytis
melinus
Neoseiulus
californicus,
Phytoseiulus
persimilis
Phytoseilus
persimilis
Planococcus
citri
Planococcus
citri
Aonidiella
aurantii
Panonychus
citri,
Tetranychus
urticae
Tetranychus
urticae
From end of April – July, if gravid females are
present, release 3–10 individuals per tree
Repeat at 2–3 week intervals.
From May – July, when third instar nymphs and
young females are present, release 10–20
individuals per infested tree
Repeat at 2–3 week intervals
From the end of winter, if parasite susceptible
stages (NII, males and young females) are present,
release 50–150 ⋅ 10 3 wasps/ha in 5 – 8 releases, 15
days apart from each other
In severely infested orchards, releases should be
combined with petroleum spray oils a .
In nurseries, hot spot releases of 10 – 30 individuals
per infested young tree b .
Hot spot releases of 100 – 500 individuals per tree
when economic threshold (20% occupied leaves) is
exceeded c .
a Summer releases should be carefully considered due to hot temperatures and low relative humidity.
Releases after summer are only recommended in orange orchards.
b
Against P. citri, only recommended in nurseries if Euseius stipulatus is not present.
c Experimental strategy under development.