Two Species of Cecidomyiidae Predacious on Citrus Rust Mite, Phyllocoptruta Oleivora, on Florida Citrus

Authors

Raul T. Villanueva, North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center 455 Research Drive, Fletcher, NC 28732
Raymond Gagne, USDA, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD
Carl Childers, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center, 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850

Date of this Version

6-2006

Comments

Published in Florida Entomologist 89(2) June 2006.

Abstract

Larvae of two undescribed species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) were found preying upon Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) (Acari: Eriophyidae) on Florida citrus. Identifications to genus were made from adults reared in the laboratory. The two species had distinctive larval coloration. One larval type was completely yellow and was identified as Feltiella n. sp., while the second larval type had an orange color with a transverse white band close to the mouthparts. The latter cecidomyiid was identified as belonging to a genus near Lestodiplosis in the broad sense. Feltiella n. sp. (n = 17) and the species near the genus Lestodiplosis (n = 12) consumed 33.8 ± 4.6 (mean ± SEM) and 43.0 ± 6.4 citrus rust mite eggs; 14.2 ± 1.4 and 15.0 ± 2.0 citrus rust mite nymphs, and 3.0 ± 0.4 and 5.6 ± 0.9 citrus rust mite adults/10 min., respectively. There were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) in the consumption rates of either predator on any rust mite life stage. These data indicate that Feltiella n. sp. and the species near the genus Lestodiplosis are both efficient predators of P. oleivora eggs, larvae, and nymphs.