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Title: CONTINUING STUDIES OF SEMIDALIS SP., A NATIVE PREDATOR OF BEMISIA IN DESERT AZ AND CA

Author
item HOELMER, KIM - USDA-APHIS, BRAWLEY, CA
item Hagler, James
item Jackson, Charles

Submitted to: National Research and Action Plan for Silver Leaf Whitefly
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Populations of a dustywing, Semidalis sp. (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), were previously reported to increase dramatically in response to population increases of Bemisia on ornamental shrubs and trees in urban areas of Imperial County, CA and Yuma, AZ. They have also been found associated with Bemisia in the Phoenix area. Larval and adult Semidalis have proven to be voracious predators of whitefly eggs and nymphs. Parasitized whiteflies are also attacked and consumed. Surveys of ornamental and tree hosts in urban areas of Imperial Valley are in progress to record population changes of Semidalis over a period of several years. Pupae are collected in these surveys and examined in the lab to determine levels of successful emergence and mortality from parasitism and predation throughout the year. We have reared three species of parasitic Hymenoptera from pupal Semidalis in the Imperial Valley in survey collections. One species of primary parasitoid of Semidalis has been identified as Dendrocerus conwentziae (Megaspilidae). Two species of hyperparasitic chalcidoid wasps attack pupal Dendrocerus (Aphelinidae: Marietta sp. and an unidentified Encyrtidae sp.)