Field parasitoids of Aonidiella aurantii (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in Valencia (Spain)

Abstract

California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) is considered a citrus key pest in Spain, Nowadays red scale is controlled using non-selective organophosphate pesticides. Fortunately, there is a trend throughout the world to minimise the use of insecticides in citrus and to promote the control of pests by the use of natural enemies. The first step previous to natural enemies releases is to know field parasitoid structure and to study parasitoids interaction. A survey was carried out in a citrus field in Valencia (East coast of Spain). As a result, two parasitoids were found: Aphytis chrysomphali and Aphytis melinus. A. chrysomphali was the predominant species. A. melinus was mainly found on third instar female scales and A. chrysomphali on malescales. The sex ratio was 1:1 for A. melinus and it was dependent on the host size. Only females of A. chrysomphali were found.