Psyllaephagus pilosus Noyes, 1988

Noyes, John Stuart, 2023, ENCYRTIDAE OF COSTA RICA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA), 4 Subfamily Encyrtinae: tribes Arrhenophagini, Habrolepidini, Cerapterocerini, Cheiloneurini, Trechnitini, Cercobelini, Polaszekiini, Protyndarichoidini, Gahaniellini and Syrphophagini (part), mainly primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Coccoidea and Psylloidea (Hemiptera), Taxonomic Monographs on Neotropical Hymenoptera (Oxford, England) 2 (11), pp. 1-921 : 593-594

Psyllaephagus pilosus Noyes

(Figs 1564-1570; Hab. E 232, G 233)

Psyllaephagus pilosus Noyes, 1988a :103,105-106. HolotypeE, New Zealand, NZAC, examined.

Female (length about 0.9-1.3mm): head generally dull, dark, blue-green, mesoscutum with a slight purple sheen, scutellum slightly brassy; antenna (Fig. 1567) with scape dark brown, flagellum dark brown; tegula dark brown; femora and tibiae dark brown; head (Fig. 1568) about 2.5X as wide as frontovertex and 3.4X as wide as mouth opening; frontovertex with shallow piliferous punctures, each subequal in size to eye facet and somewhat obscured by the fine, relatively deep, punctate-reticulate sculpture; ocelli forming an angle of about 90°, posterior ocellus a little closer to eye than occipital margin; scrobes shallow, separated from anterior ocellus by slightly more than length of torulus; antenna (Fig. 1567) with scape about 4.2X as long as broad and very slightly longer than frontovertex width; funicle segments quadrate or transverse, linear sensilla on F3-F6; clava with segments subequal, apex rounded; clypeal margin slightly emarginate, straight; mandible with one tooth and a broad truncation; mesoscutum and scutellum (Fig. 1565) with similar reticulate sculpture; fore wing (Fig. 1564) about 2.3X as long as broad, marginal vein (Fig. 1568) about 1.5X as long as broad; costal cell with 2 or 3 lines of setae dorsally in distal half but only a single complete line of setae reaching base, linea calva more or less closed; Gt3 with a distinct, strongly reticulate area anteromedially; ovipositor longer than mid tibia, virtually hidden, second valvifer with about 12 subapical setae on second valvifer. Male (length about 0.8-1.2mm): generally similar to female but for colour and structure of antenna (Fig. 1566) and genitalia (Fig. 1570); mesoscutum green, scutellum purplish; funicle segments with some very short, apically branching setae; aedeagus about 0.8X as long as mid tibia.

DISTRIBUTION. A native of New Zealand ( Noyes, 1988a) and Australia ( Dahlsten et al. 1998) and introduced into Wales, Republic of Ireland and France, (see above), also accidentally introduced into Mexico (Trjapitzin et al., 2008), Brazil ( Kurylo et al., 2010), Isle of Man ( Bennett, 2005), Germany (new record) and Costa Rica (new record).

HOSTS. Psylaephagus pilosus is a parasitoid of the nymphs of Ctenarytaina eucalypti (Maskell) ( Hemiptera : Aphalaridae ) on various species of Eucalyptus L’Hér. ( Myrtales : Myrtaceae ).

BIOCONTROL. Psyllaephagus pilosus was introduced into California from Australia and New Zealand in 1992 for the control of Ctenarytaina eucalypti (Maskell) ( Hemiptera : Aphalaridae ) an important pest of various Eucalyptus species ( Myrtales : Myrtaceae ). This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the psyllid population and completely controlled the pest with a benefit:cost ratio of 24:1 over 5 years ( Dahlsten et al. 1998). The parasitoid was later released in north Wales ( UK) in 1994 and in southeast France in 1997 and Republic of Ireland in 1998 and rapidly established, proving highly effective in controlling the pest in all areas in which it was released ( Hodkinson, 1999; Chauzat et al., 2002).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. HolotypeE: New Zealand, OL, Lake Wakatipu , Bob’s Cove, Nothofagus forest and mixed broadleaf, 23.i.1981 (J.S. Noyes, E.W. Valentine) . Paratypes: 80E, 20G from New Zealand . Holotype in NHMUK, see Noyes (1988) for a full list of type depositories .

Non type material. COSTA RICA, 15E, 8G, San José, Sabanilla, Eucalyptus psyllid, 29.iii.2011 ( X. Miranda ). ISLE OF MAN, 5E, Curraghs Wildlife Park, coll. as adult nr Ctenarytaina eucalypti / Eucalyptus , 6.viii.2002 (F.D. Bennett); 10E, 2G, Curraghs Wildlife Park, host: Ctenarytaina eucalypti / Eucalyptus , 6.viii.2002, em 8.viii.2002 and 10.viii.2002 (F.D. Bennett). GERMANY, 2E, 2G, Sachsen, Dresden,ex Ctenarytaina eucalypti , 5.iv.2001 (H. Schnee). AUSTRALIA, 2E, Victoria, Melbourne, Tecoma ,, ex Ctenarytaina eucalypti on E. globulus , #14, 3.i.1992 (D. Dahlsten); 3E, ACT, Canberra, ex Ctenarytaina eucalypti on Euc. globulus , #16, 8.i.1992 (D. Dahlsten). Material in NHMUK and MZUCR.