12. Parasitoids of the pear sucker Cacopsylla pyri L. (Psyllidae) in Bulgaria – morphology and biology

Author: Mazen Bufaur, Vili Harizanova, Atanaska Stoeva

DOI: n/a

Resume

The pear sucker Cacopsylla pyri L. is a key pest of pear in Europe, including Bulgaria. Chemical control is usually not effective enough as the pests has become resistant to most of the registered insecticides. The need of alternative solutions drew researchers’ attention on the regulating abilities of its natural enemies – predators and parasitoids. The aim of the present study was to search for parasitoid species and estabiish their potential as bioscontrol agents. In 2005-2008 in the central region of South Buigaria two parasitoid on the nymphs P. psylla were found – Trechnites psyllae (Ruschka, 1923), Prionomitus mitratus (Dalman, 1820), and a hyperparasitoid Pachyneuron muscarum (Linaneus, 1758) (Pteromalidae, Pteromalinae). At 24°C the development time for T. psyllae from egg to adult was 21.96 and 19.6 days for females and males respectively and at 28°C — 14.81 and 13.35 respectively. The development time for P. mitratus at 24°C for females and males was 23.45 and 21.93 respectively. For both parasitoids females develop slower than males. Data is given about the morphology of the parasitoids.