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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313179
Title: Release and establishment of Encarsia diaspidicola (Hymenoptera: Aphelididae) against white peach scale in papaya

Author
item Follett, Peter
item NEUMANN, GABOR - University Of Hawaii
item Hollingsworth, Robert
item SWEDMAN, ALLISON - University Of Hawaii
item SIBUCAO, ROSS - Hawaii Papaya Industry Association

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2015
Publication Date: 2/1/2016
Citation: Follett, P.A., Neumann, G., Hollingsworth, R.G., Swedman, A., Sibucao, R. 2016. Release and establishment of Encarsia diaspidicola (Hymenoptera: Aphelididae) against white peach scale in papaya. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings. 47:51-54.

Interpretive Summary: White peach scale is a serious economic and quarantine pest of papaya. Biological control is often effective against scale insect pests. The parasitic wasp Encarsia diaspidicola was brought from Samoa into a quarantine containment facility in 2006, and after host range testing, was approved by USDA APHIS and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for release. Releases of E.diaspidicola were made beginning in February 2013 in a papaya field on the Big Island. Yellow sticky trap monitoring during 1 1/2 years suggests that the wasp has established in the area of release and spread to neighboring papaya fields. Infested papaya logs are being used to spread the wasp to new areas.

Technical Abstract: White peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Hemiptera:Diaspididae) is a serious economic pest of papaya, Carica papaya L. The parasitic wasp Encarsia diaspidicola (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was brought from Samoa into a quarantine containment facility in Hawaii for evaluation and potential release against white peach scale. E.diaspidicola was considered an ideal biological control candidate for release in Hawaii because it is reportedly highly host specific. Host range testing in quarantine with several exotic diaspidids and related taxa, including a native palm scale, indicated that E.dispidicola is unlikely to attack non-target species or cause harm to the environment if released for control of white peach scale in Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and USDA APHIS issued permits for its release. Releases of E.diaspidicola were made beginning in February 2013 in a papaya field in Kapoho on the Big Island. Yellow sticky trap monitoring suggests that the wasp has established in the area of release and spread to neighboring papaya fields. Infested papaya logs are being used to spread the wasp to new areas.