Lipolexis scutellaris is a parasitoid of Toxoptera citricida, the brown citrus aphid. It currently is being released in citrus groves throughout Florida. The efficacy of a classical biological control agent can be affected by many factors, one of which is predation by other organisms. Laboratory studies indicate the majority of L. scutellaris mummies are located in the soil regardless of aphid density. Because of mummy location, Solenopsis invicta, the red imported fire ant, potentially could reduce efficacy or possibly preclude establishment of L. scutellaris. In order to evaluate this, experiments were performed in the laboratory and field. Laboratory experiments indicated that mummies of L. scutellaris are less attractive to fire ants than a more preferred food source, although S. invicta showed a slight preference for newly mummified individuals compared to older mummies. In the field, S. invicta removed almost as many mummies as a more preferred food item, indicating they could have a detrimental effect on the establishment and efficacy of L. scutellaris.
Species 1: Homoptera Aphididae Toxoptera citricida (brown citrus aphid)
Species 2: Hymenoptera Aphidiidae Lipolexis scutellaris
Species 3: Hymeonptera Formicidae Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant)
Keywords: Citrus
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA