Leptomastix dactylopii Howard

Leptomastix dactylopii was imported in 1983 from West Indies. Laboratory studies showed that it is capable of parasitising Planococcus citri, P. lilacinus and P. pacificus. It has successfully established in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In the field it parasitises only P. citri and appears to be its specific parasitoid.

L. dactylopii is a solitary internal parasitoid. It completes its life cycle in 17 to 21 days on P. citri. Third instar nymphs and adult mealybugs are preferred for oviposition. Parasitoid development is significantly faster when' exposed to later stages of the mealybug. More parasitoid females are obtained when partially gravid females of P. citri are exposed to L.dactylopii. For mass rearing of L. dactylopii 15 to 20 day old P. citri females are ideal.

Ripe pumpkins infested with 15-20 day old Planococcus citri are exposed to 1-2 day old L. dactylopii females in the host parasitoid ratio of 40:1. After 24 hrs the parasitoids are aspirated and the pumpkin containing parasitised mealybugs are either placed in a separate room on racks to be brought back 2-3 days before parasitoid emergence arid placed in the cage. It could also be directly kept in cages. The parasitoids' complete development in about 15 days. The emerging adults are collected and retained for 24 hrs during which time they are fed on 50% honey solution provided in swabs placed in small plastic containers. The adults after 24 hrs confinement without mealybugs are then either released in the field or used for continuation of the culture. The adults may live as long as 35 days parasitising 18 mealybugs per day, a total of upto 200 mealybugs may be parasitised in the life time.