Abstract

CASMUZ, Augusto S. et al. Effect of abamectin airplane applications on Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoid of citrus leafminer, in Tucumán province. Rev. ind. agríc. Tucumán [online]. 2007, vol.84, n.2, pp.1-7. ISSN 1851-3018.

The foreign parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola is one of the most important biological tools used to control citrus leafminer in the main citrus producing areas of Argentina. However, chemical control is still the alternative most widely used by growers. In our province, airplane sprays of abamectin mixed with mineral oil have become generalized in recent years to control citrus leafminer populations as part of a management program which includes periodic samplings to evaluate citrus leafminer and A. citricola population fluctuations and citrus flushes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of abamectin airplane applications on A. citricola parasitism on citrus leafminer populations. Citrus leafminer pupal chambers were examined and parasitism percentages in abamectin-treated lemon orchards were compared with those obtained in orchards without treatments against citrus leafminer, located in the northern and southern areas of Tucumán, respectively. Results from fortnightly samplings showed that A. citricola parasitism on P. citrella was lower in orchards managed under airplane abamectin applications. However, differences were significant only in a few sampling dates and some of these significant differences may not be attributed to abamectin applications performed in northern and southern areas of the province.

Keywords : Phyllocnistis citrella; Parasitism; Chemical control; Airplane sprays.

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