Effectiveness of the exotic encyrtid parasitoid, Leptomastix dactylopii How. in the control of mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) in guava orchards

The Brazilean parasitoid, Leptomastix dactylopii How. (Hym., Encyrtidae) was introduced into India in 1983 for the control of the mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hom., Pseudococcidae) and the first release was mamde in 1984 at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Farm at Bangalore. After controlling effectively P. citri in citrus orchards, L. dactylopii dispersed to nearby orchards especially guava which were severely infested with P. citri. The dispersal and establishment of L. dactylopii in these guava orchards had resulted in complete suppression of P. citri. The parasitoid could disperse by 5 km from the release site but not recovered at a village located 35 km away from the site of release. Introduction of L. dactylopii into the guava orchards where it was absent also gave an effective control of the mealybug. L.dactylopii was dominant and mainly responsible for the suppression of P. citri and the impact of the local natural enemies was negligible. The local natural enemy complex consisted of two parasitoids, viz., Coccidoxenoides peregrinus (Timberlake) and Allotropa sp. and two predators, viz., Spalgis epius Westwood and Chrysopa sp. However, only Allotropa sp. was found important to some extent in the garden located at K.R. Halli.