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Post-release survey to assess impact and potential host range expansion by Amitus hesperidum and Encarsia perplexa, two parasitoids introduced for the biological control of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi in Dominica

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Abstract

Four years after the release of two exotic parasitoids, Amitus hesperidum Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) and Encarsia perplexa Huang and Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) for the classical biological control of the citrus blackfly (CBF), Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Dominica, a survey was conducted to assess establishment as well as potential nontarget effects especially on Aleyrodidae and other related taxa. CBF populations were low to non-existent in 50 of 51 field sites examined. At the site where CBF was encountered, both E. perplexa and A. hesperidum were present and CBF populations were declining. The two parasitoids were not among the several species collected on nontarget Aleryodidae and Hemiptera. It is concluded that E. perplexa and A. hesperidum have kept CBF populations under effective biological control in Dominica and there is no evidence of any nontarget effects on other Aleyrodidae or their natural enemies.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Drs. J. Martin/G.W. Watson and A. Polaszek of NHM, London for the identification of the Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, respectively. The study was a part of the activities funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Technical Cooperation Project—TCP/DMI/8922—Management of Citrus Blackfly in Dominica.

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Author notes

  1. Vyjayanthi F. Lopez

    Present address: CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CABI Caribbean & Latin America (CABI-CLA), Gordon Street, Curepe, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

    Vyjayanthi F. Lopez

  2. Center for Biological Control, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology & Agriculture, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307-4100, USA

    Moses T. K. Kairo

  3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, UN House, Hastings, Barbados, West Indies

    Gene V. Pollard

  4. Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, Botanical Gardens, Roseau, Dominica, West Indies

    Charles Pierre, Naomi Commodore & Donny Dominique

Authors
  1. Vyjayanthi F. Lopez
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  2. Moses T. K. Kairo
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  3. Gene V. Pollard
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  4. Charles Pierre
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  5. Naomi Commodore
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  6. Donny Dominique
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moses T. K. Kairo.

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Handling Editor: Dirk Babendreier.

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Lopez, V.F., Kairo, M.T.K., Pollard, G.V. et al. Post-release survey to assess impact and potential host range expansion by Amitus hesperidum and Encarsia perplexa, two parasitoids introduced for the biological control of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi in Dominica. BioControl 54, 497–503 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9207-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9207-4

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