Artículo

Cirrospilus sp. near lyncus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is one of the most abundant indigenous parasitoids of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) found in Spain. In this study, data on the influence of constant temperatures, ranging from 1º to 40ºC, on survival and development of the parasitoid are presented. Complete development only occurred between 10º and 35ºC, but eggs and pupae could survive at lower and higher temperatures, respectively. Upper and lower development thresholds were estimated to occur at 37.8º and 8.8ºC, respectively. Maximal development rate occurred at 31.8ºC and thermal constant was 182.0 DD. Therefore, under typical Mediterranean climatic conditions, development of C. sp. near lyncus could continue throughout the year. Because citrus leafminer populations usually collapse at the beginning of winter, and do not become conspicuous until the end of spring, provision of alternative hosts within citrus orchards, would presumably favor the winter permanence of opportunistic C. sp. nr lyncus, and thus increase the impact of this parasitoid early in the season, when parasitism on the citrus leafminer is very low.

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