Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, 1927

van Noort, Simon, Lahey, Zachary, Talamas, Elijah J., Austin, Andrew D., Masner, Lubomir, Polaszek, Andrew & Johnson, Norman F., 2021, Review of Afrotropical sceliotracheline parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 87, pp. 115-222 : 115

Amitus hesperidum Silvestri

Fig. 11

Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, 1927: 55 (original description); MacGown and Nebeker 1978: 280; description); Nguyen 1988: 1 (distribution, description); Vlug 1995: 16 (catalogued); He et al. 2004: 323 (description); Ghahari and Buhl 2011: 331 (distribution); Masner and Huggert 1989: 52 (listed); Vlug 1995: 16 (catalogued, type information).

Amitus hesperidum variipes Silvestri, 1927: 58 (original description).

Amitus variipes Silvestri, 1927: Vlug 1995: 16 (catalogued, type information).

Material examined.

Holotype: China • Lost. Redescribed by MacGown and Nebeker (1978).

Additional material examined.

USA • 2♀♀, 1♂ card mounted ; 13♀♀, 2♂♂ loose in gelatine capsule; Florida, Gainsville ; xi. 1989; Ru Nguyen; ex Aleurocanthus woglumi on citrus; ex consignment; AcBC 275; Amitus hesperidum (SANC) .

Biology.

Parasitoid of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi ( Hemiptera , Aleyrodidae ), a major pest of citrus trees ( Masner and Huggert 1989; Vlug 1995).

Distribution.

China, but introduced to most tropical areas of the world as part of biocontrol programs ( Masner and Huggert 1989; Vlug 1995). Possibly present in South Africa (see comments below).

Comments.

No published evidence of introduction or establishment of A. hesperidum in South Africa could be located, possibly because Eretmocrus serius Silvestri ( Chalcidoidea , Aphelinidae ) was introduced and successfully controlled citrus blackfly after its discovery in 1959 in South Africa ( Bedford and Thomas 1965; Hoelmer and Grace 1989). Biological control using E. serius was also effective in the Seychelles ( Greathead 1971) and in Kenya ( Wheatley 1964). Specimens of A. hesperidum are deposited in SANC suggesting that the species may have been introduced or considered for introduction at some point in the mid twentieth century.

Figures

Figure 11. Amitus hesperidum female (SANC) (AcBC 275) A habitus, lateral view B habitus, dorsal view C head, mesosoma, lateral view D head, mesosoma, dorsal view E head, anterior view F fore wing, dorsal view (inset: data labels).