Population fluctuation of citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and its parasitoids in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey.

The seasonal abundance, parasitoid complex and percentage of parasitism of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were investigated in three grapefruit orchards in the eastern Mediterranean region in 2005-2007. Phyllocnistis citrella populations increased during summer months and declined during fall. During the study period, 2-3 peaks of both pest and parasitoid populations were detected on the summer shoots and 1-2 peaks on the fall shoots. At the experimental sites, 10 parasitoid species and unidentified individuals belonging to 2 genera were determined to attack P. citrella. Citrostichus phyllocnistoides Narayanan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was the most abundant parasitoid (72.8%), followed by Cirrospilus brevis Zhu, LaSalle & Huang (11.2%) and C. ingenuus Gahan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (7.1%). Sympiesis striatipes (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), was determined for the first time as a parasitoid of P. citrella in Turkey. Parasitism ratio (%) ranged between 39.56-50.67% in Hatay, 42.60-47.61% in Adana and 35.60-41.25% in Mersin during the study years. The highest rates of parasitism were observed at the end of summer and in the fall. It was determined that percent parasitism was significantly correlated with increases of P. citrella density, but did not significantly differ among the study sites and years. The results show that C. phyllocnistoides has an important role among the P. citrella parasitoids present in Turkey due to its frequency.