Recovery of the indigenousCoccidoxenoides peregrinusand the exoticLeptomastix dactylopiionPlanococcus citriin lemon and acid lime orchards

The citrus mealybug Planococcus citri was found in large numbers on lemon and acid lime in 1991 around Bangalore. It was attacked by two encyrtid parasitoids, the exotic Leptomastix dactylopii and the indigenous Coccidoxenoides peregrinus. L. dactylopii was recovered 7 years after a release in 1984 around Bangalore. However C. peregrinus was more abundant, and was responsible for the decline of P. citri both on lemon and acid lime. No other primary or hyper‐parasitoid or predator of P. citri was recorded in these citrus orchards during the study.