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Natural Enemies of the Harrisia Cactus Mealybug and Other Hypogeococcus Species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Puerto Rico: Identification and Taxonomic Notes on Primary and Secondary Parasitoids

  • Systematics, Morphology and Physiology
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Abstract

Primary and secondary parasitoids of Hypogeococcus spp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Cactaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Portulacaceae were reported from field surveys conducted in Puerto Rico, USA, since 2009. Resident natural enemies of the Harrisia cactus mealybug (HCM), Hypogeococcus sp., which is devastating native cacti in Puerto Rico and threatening cacti in the adjacent Caribbean islands, were documented prior to the planned introductions of non-native biological control agents from South America against this pest. Two species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) were recorded as primary parasitoids of the HCM on Cactaceae: Leptomastidea hypogeococci Triapitsyn, which was the most common, and Anagyrus quilmes Triapitsyn, Logarzo & Aguirre. Another primary parasitoid, Acerophagus sp. near nubilipennis Dozier (Encyrtidae), was also reared from a different Hypogeococcus sp. on Amaranthaceae and Portulacaceae. Hyperparasitoids, usually via L. hypogeococci, included Prochiloneurus narendrani Noyes & Triapitsyn (Encyrtidae), Pachyneuron sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Chartocerus elongatus (Girault), and Chartocerus niger (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae). Cheiloneurus chrisiantorresi Triapitsyn sp. n. (Encyrtidae) is newly described and illustrated; its status as a suspect hyperparasitoid of Hypogeococcus sp. on Amaranthaceae and Portulacaceae, along with that of Cheiloneurus sp., will need to be verified. The recorded HCM predators include one species of Chamaemyiidae (Diptera), Leucopina bella (Loew), and three species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera): Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Decadiomus austrinus (Gordon), and Scymnobius flavifrons (Melsheimer).

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Acknowledgments

We thank Vladimir V. Berezovskiy (UCRC) for drying specimens from ethanol and making excellent point and slide mounts, John S. Noyes (BMNH) for valuable information and discussions, Robert L. Zuparko (California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA) for comments on the identity of Cheiloneurus spp., Natalie Dale-Skey Pappillod (BMNH) for arranging loans of specimens, and Michael W. Gates for providing access to the USNM collections of Encyrtidae and Signiphoridae. Stephen D. Gaimari (Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California, USA) and Natalia J. Vandenberg (USNM) kindly identified the chamaemyiid fly and coccinellid beetle predators, respectively. Anamaria Dal Molin (Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil) generously shared digital images of the primary types of the New World species of Chartocerus and her unpublished notes on them; James B. Woolley (TAMU) gave access to the loaned specimens of this genus in his laboratory and took images of the forewings of the syntypes of Signiphora nigra. Ana M. Roman (Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Boqueron, Puerto Rico, USA), Christian W. Torres Santana (Arboreto Parque Doña Inés, Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA), and Mike Barandiaran (Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, USA) helped with the applications for permits required for our survey.

Author Contribution Statement

SVT wrote the manuscript, identified specimens, and did all taxonomic work; SDH, GAL, MBA, and JCVR contributed to the manuscript and reviewed it; SDH, GAL, SVT, MBA, and JCVR conceptualized research and provided project administration; SDH, GAL, and JCVR were responsible for funding acquisition; VAT and SVT compiled the key; and SVT, SDH, GAL, MBA, JCVR, ZRO, MLRV, MJWO, and YRR conducted surveys and collected material.

Funding

This study was supported by the USDA-APHIS Farm Bill funding for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2019 and APHIS-Biological Control support funding throughout the survey period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    S. V. Triapitsyn

  2. USDA-ARS, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    S. D. Hight

  3. FuEDEI, Simón Bolívar, 1559, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G. A. Logarzo & M. B. Aguirre

  4. CONICET, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. B. Aguirre

  5. Center for Excellence in Quarantine & Invasive Species, Agricultural Experimental Station - Río Piedras, Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences Dept., Univ. of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    J. C. Verle Rodrigues & M. J. West Ortiz

  6. Russian Entomological Society, Moscow, Russia

    V. A. Trjapitzin

  7. Univ. of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Z. Rivera Ocasio

  8. Puerto Rico Dept. of Agriculture, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    M. L. Rivera-Vázquez

  9. Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    M. J. West Ortiz & Y. Rodríguez Reyes

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  1. S. V. Triapitsyn
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  2. S. D. Hight
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  3. G. A. Logarzo
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  4. M. B. Aguirre
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  5. J. C. Verle Rodrigues
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  6. V. A. Trjapitzin
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  9. M. J. West Ortiz
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  10. Y. Rodríguez Reyes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. B. Aguirre.

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Edited by Patrícia J Thyssen – UNICAMP

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Triapitsyn, S.V., Hight, S.D., Logarzo, G.A. et al. Natural Enemies of the Harrisia Cactus Mealybug and Other Hypogeococcus Species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Puerto Rico: Identification and Taxonomic Notes on Primary and Secondary Parasitoids. Neotrop Entomol 49, 369–391 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-019-00754-w

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