Biological studies on Aphytis aonidiae (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), an important parasite of the San Jose scale

Gulmahamad, H; DeBach, P

Biological studies on Aphytis aonidiae (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), an important parasite of the San Jose scale

Authors

Hanif Gulmahamad
Paul DeBach

Authors Affiliations

Hanif Gulmahamad was Research Assistant, Division of Biological Control, Riverside; he is now Entomologist and Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana, South America; Paul DeBach was Professor of Biological Control, Division of Biological Control, Riverside.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 46(7):239-256. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v46n07p205. October 1978.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

San Jose scale is well distributed throughout southern California on a variety of host plants but is quite rare in general. Only occasional plants, and usually only a portion of each, have any appreciable numbers of scales. Examples of these plants in several climatic zones were studied. Historical evidence, wide geographical distribution, and deductive and inductive reasoning essentially ruled out the weather as having any appreciable regulatory effect on scale populations.

Out of some six species of natural enemies that attack the San Jose scale in southern California, only three were found to be of any consequence—the hymenopterous parasites, Aphytis aonidiae (Mercet) (see Note, page 205) and Prospaltella perniciosi Tower, and the parasitic mite, Hemisarcoptes malus Shimer. Aphytis aonidiae is the most common and widespread, constituting nearly 80 percent of the specimens reared or counted. It was virtually the only species present in two of the five districts studied and was dominant in all. Prospaltella perniciosi and H. malus appeared limited to areas having coastal climatic influences; A. diaspidis was rare and inconsequential.

Winter climate affected the age distribution of scale stages; and at the coldest location, host-parasite synchrony was interrupted during the winter. This was partially alleviated by overwintering diapause of A. aonidiae. The four milder locations had scale stages suitable for parasite development all year. Total percentage parasitization was never impressively high, yet it was always associated with much higher proportions of scales dead from cryptic causes. The majority of such deaths was ascribed to host-feeding by adult female A. aonidiae. Hemisarcoptes malus developed only on mature third-stage female scales, A. aonidiae only on second-instar and third stages, and P. perniciosi on second-instar, second molt, and third stages. Thus, these three can coexist and complement one another. These life-table studies may indicate, but do not in themselves prove, that parasites were regulatory at the densities observed in the field.

Paired-cage comparisons between scale trends on plots having parasites vs. those with parasites excluded proved that the parasiteswere responsible for the generally low scale population densities observed in the field in southern California, and that climate was permissive for scale development. These tests showed that A. aonidiae, acting alone, can regulate San Jose scale populations at low levels.

Based on these studies, we suggest that the potential of A. aonidiae for biological control of San Jose scale should be reexamined in all countries where this scale is a problem.

References

Abdelrahman I. Studies in ovipositional behavior and control of sex in Aphytis melinus DeBach, a parasite of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.). Aust. Jour. Zool. 1974. 22:231-47. DOI: 10.1071/ZO9740231 [CrossRef]

Anonymous. Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comst.) pou de San Jose. Publications de l’OEPP 1968. p.6. Serie B. No. 64.

Baker J. L. Determinants of host selection for species of Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), parasites of diaspine scales. Hilgardia. 1976. 44(1):1-25. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v44n01p001 [CrossRef]

Bartlett B. R. Patterns in host-feeding habits of adult parasitic Hymenoptera. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 1964. 57:344-50.

Benassy C., Bianchi H. Sur l’écologie de P. perniciosi Tower (Hym.: Aphelinidae) parasite specifique importe de Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comst. (Hom.: Diaspididae). Entomophaga. 1960. 5:165-81. DOI: 10.1007/BF02374404 [CrossRef]

Bohm H. Possibilities of biological control of San Jose scale in Austria. Europ. Mediterr. Plant Prot. Organ. Pub. Series. 1963. A34:95

Burnett T. Effects of temperature and host density on the rate of increase of an insect parasite. Amer. Natur. 1951. 85:337-52. DOI: 10.1086/281687 [CrossRef]

DeBach P. The importance of host-feeding by adult parasites in the reduction of host populations. Jour. Econ. Ent. 1943. 36:647-58.

DeBach P. Some species of Aphytis Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in Greece. Ann. Inst. Phytopath. Benaki, N. S. 1964. 7:5-18.

DeBach P. Biological control of diaspine scale insects on citrus in California. Proc. 1st Int. Citrus Symp. 1969. 2:801-16.

DeBach P., Landi J. The introduced purple scale parasite, Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, and a method of integrating chemical with biological control. Hilgardia. 1961. 31:459-97. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v31n14p459 [CrossRef]

DeBach P., Smith H. S. The effect of host density on the rate of reproduction of entomophagous parasites. Jour. Econ. Ent. 1941. 34:741-45.

DeBach P., Sundby R. A. Competitive displacement between ecological homologues. Hilgardia. 1963. 34:105-66. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v34n05p105 [CrossRef]

DeBach P., White E. B. Commercial mass culture of the California red scale parasite Aphytis lingnanensis. Univ. Calif. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 1960. 770:58

Flanders S. E. Predatism by the adult hymenopterous parasite and its role in biological control. Jour. Econ. Ent. 1953. 46:541-44.

Gordh G., DeBach P. Courtship behavior in the Aphytis lingnanensis complex, its potential usefulness in taxonomy and a review of sexual behavior in the parasitic Hymenoptera (Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae). Hilgardia. 1978. 46(2):37-75. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v46n02p037 [CrossRef]

Holling C. S. The components of predation as revealed by a study of small mammal predation of the European pine sawfly. Canad. Ent. 1959a. 91:293-320. DOI: 10.4039/Ent91293-5 [CrossRef]

Holling C. S. Some characteristics of simple types of predation and parasitism. Canad. Ent. 1959b. 91:385-98. DOI: 10.4039/Ent91385-7 [CrossRef]

Holling C. S. Principles of insect predation. Ann. Rev. of Ent. 1961. 6:163-82. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.06.010161.001115 [CrossRef]

Holling C. S. The functional response of predators to prey density and its role in mimicry and population regulation. Mem. Entomol. Soc. Canad. No. 1965. 45:1-60. DOI: 10.4039/entm9745fv [CrossRef]

Holling C. S. The functional response of invertebrate predators to prey density. Mem. Entomol. Soc. Canad. No. 1966. 48:1-86. DOI: 10.4039/entm9848fv [CrossRef]

Hoyt S. C., Burts E. C. Integrated control of fruit pests. Ann. Rev. Ent. 1974. 19:231-52. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.19.010174.001311 [CrossRef]

Huba A. Effektivitat einer introduktion von parasiten der San Jose schildlaus in der Tshechoslowakei 1958. pp.395-403. First Int. Conf. Insect Path. and Biol. Control, Prague

Khasimuddin S., DeBach P. Biosystematic and evolutionary statuses of two sympatric populations of Aphytis mytilaspidis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Entomophaga. 1976. 21(1):113-22. DOI: 10.1007/BF02372022 [CrossRef]

Madsen H. F., Morgan C. B. G. Pome fruit pests and their control. Ann. Rev. Ent. 1970. 15:295-320. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.15.010170.001455 [CrossRef]

Marlatt C. L. The San Jose or Chinese scale. USDA Bureau Ent. Bull. No. 1906. 62:1-89.

Marlatt C. L. An entomologist’s quest. 1953. Baltimore, Md.: Monumental Printing Co. 338p.

Mathys G. Possibilities de lutte contre le pou de San Jose par la méthode biologique et integrée. Proc. FAO Symp. Integrated Pest Control. 1966. 3:53-64.

Mathys G., Guignard E. Un important allie dans la lutte contre le pou de San Jose. Prospaltella perniciosi Tower. Agric. Romande. 1962. 1:59-61.

Neuffer G. Zur zucht und verbreitung von Prospaltella perniciosi Tower (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) und anderen parasiten der San Jose schildlaus (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comstock) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in Badenwurttemberg. Rev. Appl. Ent. Series A. 1962. 52:76

Poole R. W. An introduction to quantitative ecology. 1974. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 532p.

Popova A. I. The San Jose scale. 1961. Moscow-Leningrad: Sel-Khozizdat (Agricultural Publishing House). 76p.

Popova A. I. The biology of Prospaltella perniciosi Tower, a parasite of the San Jose scale and its use on the Black Sea Coast of Krasnodar Territory. The biological methods for control of pests and diseases of crops. 1962. Moscow: Sel-Khozizdat (Agricultural Publishing House). p. 147-76.

Quaintance A. L. The San Jose scale and its control. USDA Farmer’s Bull. 1915. 650:27

Quednau F. W. An evaluation of fecundity, host mutilation, and longevity on 3 species of diaspine scales in Aphytis lingnanensis Compere (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). South Africa Jour. Agric. Sci. 1964. 7:521-30.

Quednau F. W., Hubsch H. M. Factors influencing the host-finding and host-acceptance pattern in some Aphytis species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). South Africa Jour. Agric. Sci. 1964. 7:543-54.

Rao Sudha V., Rao V. P. Introduction of Prospaltella perniciosi for control of San Jose scale in India and Pakistan. FAO Plant Protection Bull. 1960. 8:120-23.

Rehman M. H., Ghani M. A., Kazimi S. K. Introduction of exotic natural enemies of San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comstock (Homoptera: Diaspididae) into Pakistan. Comm. Inst. Biol. Control. Tech. Bull. 1961. 1:165-82.

Rosen D., DeBach P. Homoptera: Diaspididae. Introduced parasites and predators of arthropod pests and weeds—a world review 1978. pp.78-128. Clausen C. P.(ed.). USDA: 354-68 Ag. Handbook No. 48

Rössler Y., DeBach P. The biosystematic relations between a thelytokous and an arrhenotokous form of Aphytis mytilaspidis (LeBaron) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). I. The reproductive relations. Entomophaga. 1972a. 17:391-423. DOI: 10.1007/BF02371647 [CrossRef]

Rössler Y., DeBach P. The biosystematic relations between a thelytokous and an arrhenotokous form of Aphytis mytilaspidis (LeBaron) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). II. Comparative biological and morphological studies. Entomophaga. 1972b. 17:425-35. DOI: 10.1007/BF02371648 [CrossRef]

Solomon M. E. The natural control of animal populations. Jour. Anim. Ecol. 1949. 18:1-35. DOI: 10.2307/1578 [CrossRef]

Sorokina A. P. Structure and development of the reproductive system in chalcids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) which are parasites of coccids (Hymenoptera: Coccoidea): Part I. Ent. Review. 1971. 50:310-16.

Takahashi F. Functional response to host density in a parasitic wasp, with reference to population regulation. Res. Popul. Ecol. 1968. 10:54-68. DOI: 10.1007/BF02514734 [CrossRef]

Ullyett G. C. Distribution of progeny by Chelonus texanus Cress (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Canad. Ent. 1949a. 81:25-44. DOI: 10.4039/Ent8125-2 [CrossRef]

Ullyett G. C. Distribution of progeny by Cryptus inornatus Pratt (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Canad. Ent. 1949b. 81:285-99. DOI: 10.4039/Ent81285-12 [CrossRef]