Optimizing host: Parasitoid ratios and photoperiods for more efficient mass rearing of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a parasitoid of the citrus greening disease vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Tamarixia radiata is an ectoparasitoid used for augmentative biological control agent of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri in Florida and elsewhere. However, information is lacking on best methods for mass rearing the parasitoid. We tested 3 release rates of D. citri per shoot, 4 host: T. radiata ratios, and five photoperiods for production efficiency. Results showed that 20 psyllid adults per flush provided adequate hosts for psyllid infestation while avoiding stickiness. Releasing 60 T. radiata females per cage of containing approximately 4800 nymphs was deemed most efficient, producing an average of 2,004 wasps.  Progeny sex ratio was not influenced by parental sex ratio. Near maximum fecundity was obtained with a photoperiod of 12 hours. This methodology improved the parasitoid production about 3-fold over a previous system employing the same materials and effort.