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DIAPHORINA PSYLLID

Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) -- Homoptera, Psyllidae

(Contacts)

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This psyllid and Trioza erythrea (DelGuernica) are important psyllids attacking citrus by transmitting greening or likubin disease. Diaphorina citri is distributed throughout most of Asia, but also occurs in Brazil, Reunion, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia. In Reunion D. citri is generally restricted to lower elevations and rainfall areas. Two eulophids, Tetrastichus dryi Waterston and Psyllaephagus pulvinatus Waterston, were introduced from South Africa. Only T. dryi became established but did not control D. citri (although it did control Trioza) (Aubert & Quilici 1983). In 1978 Tetrastichus radiatus Waterston was introduced from India, and along with an accidentally introduced parasitoid, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Shaffee et al.) produced complete biological control in two years (Kennett et al. 1999). Tetrastichus radiatus was introduced from Reunion in 1984, but did not become established. Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis and Psyllaephagus sp. were already present (Chiu et al. 1985).

REFERENCES: [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]

Aubert, B. & S. Quilici. 1983. Nouvel quilibre biologique observ la Reunion sur les populations de psyllids l'introduction et l'establissement d'hymenoptäres chalcidiens. Fruits 38: 771-80.

Chiu, S. C., K. C. Lo., C. C. Chien, C. C. Chen & C. F. Chen. 1985. A review of the biological of crop pests in Taiwan (1981-1984). Spec. Publ. No. 19, Taiwan Agr. Res. Inst. p. 1-8.

Kennett, C. E., J. A. McMurtry & J. W. Beardsley. 1999. Biological control in subtropical and tropical crops. In: Bellows, T. S. & T. W. Fisher (eds.), Handbook of Biological Control: Principles and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, New York. 1046 p