Genetic diversity of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) and its parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Brazil

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 838 - 841
• Main Authors: Santos, F A, Correa, A S, Nanini, F, Nascimento, D A, Junqueira, L R, Wilcken, C F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Agricultural biotechnology; Animals; Brazil; Cytochrome; Datasets; Encyrtidae; Eucalyptus; Evolution & development; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; Glycaspis brimblecombei; Haplotypes; Hemiptera; Hemiptera - genetics; Hemiptera - parasitology; Hymenoptera; Hymenoptera - genetics; Insects; Parasitism; Pest outbreaks; Pests; Photosynthesis; Phylogenetics; Plantations; Psyllaephagus; Brazil; United States > US; Mexico; Zambia; California; Australia; Chile; Portugal
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.230486

Santos et al discuss the genetic diversity of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) and its parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Brazil. The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei (Moore) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), is one of the main exotic pests of Eucalyptus in Brazil. This sap-sucking insect causes loss of photosynthetic area and dryness of the upper part of the crown, retarding trees growth. In Brazil, G. brimblecombei has been parasitized by the micro-wasp initially believed to be Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). However, outbreaks of G. brimblecombei have coincided with low incidences of parasitism by P. bliteus in some parts of the country in recent years. The presence of one haplotype in Brazil suggests that a single invasion event of G. brimblecombei originating from geographic areas previously invaded for this pest in the American continent.