Parasitoids and predators of Melanaspis paulistus Hempl. (Hom. Coccoidea) in the N of Argentina

Abstract

M. paulistus is common in northern Argentina, being also a pest of olives in Mendoza. Crouzel (1973) said that sometimes it occurs on citrus. Several parasitoids attacking it have been recorded (De Santis, 1967 and 1973). The list is enlarged now with the aphelinids Aphytis costalimai (Gomes), Aphytis sp. and Prospaltella ectophaga Silvestri, the encyrtid Zaomma lambinus (Walker) and the signiphorids Signiphora sp. and S. desantisi (De Santis). The new status of S. desantisi is established based principally on its biology, this species being a primary gregarious ectoparasitoid of adult females scales of M. paulistus, Some field observations on the other species obtained from M. paulistus are mentioned.