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Title: A NEW RECORD AND HOST ASSOCIATION FOR THE PIGEONPEA POD FLY, MELANAGROMYZA OBTUSA (MALLOCH)(DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE), AND NOTES ON ITS PARASITOIDS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA

Author
item MAKINSON, JEFF - CSIRO ENTOMOLOGY
item Goolsby, John
item KIRK, ALAN - ARS-EBCL
item MEYERDIRK, SALE - USDA-APHIS

Submitted to: Australian Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2005
Publication Date: 8/15/2005
Citation: Makinson, J., Goolsby, J., Kirk, A., Meyerdirk, S. 2005. A new record and host association for the pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch)(Diptera: Agromyzidae), and notes on its parasitoids in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Entomologist. 32: 79-82

Interpretive Summary: The pigeon pea podfly, Melanagromyza obtusa, has become a serious pest of pigeon peas in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The podfly is known from India where it is also a pest of commercial pigeon peas. Exploratory surveys were conducted in the Northern Territory of Australia where the podfly was discovered on native species of pigeon pea, Cajanus latispelus. Two parasitoid species of the fly were recovered and shipped to quarantine facilities in Puerto Rico for evaluation and potential release for biological control of this pest.

Technical Abstract: The pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is recorded for the first time in the Northern Territory, Australia. This is also the first time it has been found on the native legume, Cajanus latisepalus, and the first record of a host association for M. obtusa in Australia. Two parasitoids, Callitula sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Ormyrus sp. (Hymenoptera: Ormyridae) were reared from M. obtusa on C. latisepalus pods.