Effect of the California red scale Aonidiella aurantii sex pheromone on the natural parasitism by Aphytis spp. in Mediterranean citrus

Mating disruption has proved successful against California red scale (CRS), Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Mediterranean citrus. Although mating disruption does not affect negatively the parasitism by Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a CRS parasitoid introduced to the Mediterranean, there is no information regarding its potential effect on the native Aphytis species. In the present study, the effect of CRS mating disruption on the field parasitism inflicted by Aphytis spp. has been assessed and compared to a mineral oil and a control treatment. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the mating disruption we also evaluated its effect on the captures of the CRS males and on fruit infestation. Moreover, the potential role of the CRS sex pheromone as kairomone for the Aphytis species was also evaluated by comparing captures of parasitoids on sticky traps with or without pheromone. Significantly lower CRS male captures and fruit damage were registered in the mating disruption respect to the control or oil treatments indicating that mating disruption was effective. In September, when compared to the control, parasitism by Aphytis spp. was significantly lower in the mating disruption and mineral oil treatments and crucially no Aphytis chrysomphali Mercet were registered in the mating disruption treatment. Finally, while the captures of both A. melinus and Aphytis lepidosaphes (Mercet) were not significantly different between traps with or without pheromone, A. chrysomphali captures were significantly higher in traps baited with CRS pheromone. These results suggest a possible kairomonal effect of the CRS pheromone on A. chrysomphali.