Encarsia
Encyclopedia
Encarsia is a large genus of minute parasitic wasps
of the family Aphelinidae
. The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution. The number of existing species is expected to be several times higher because many species are still undescribed. The adult wasps, tiny insects with 1-2 mm in size, are primarily parasitoid
s of sessile stages of Sternorrhyncha
, in particular whiteflies
(Aleyrodidae) and scale insect
s (Diaspididae). A few species are known to parasitize aphid
s, eggs of shield-back bugs (Plataspidae), and eggs of Lepidoptera
. Females are mostly developing as primary endoparasitoids whereas males are commonly hyperparasitoids of the same or other species.
Species of Encarsia are of particular interest because of their economic importance for biological pest control
, especially in horticulture and for crops grown under glass. Many seem to be extremely host-specific which is an important trait
for an acceptable and effective bio-control agent.
Chalcid wasp
Chalcid wasps belong to the insect order Hymenoptera, and are one of the largest groups within the order, with some 22,000 known species, and an estimated total diversity of anywhere from 60,000 to more than 500,000 species, meaning the vast majority have yet to be discovered and described.Most of...
of the family Aphelinidae
Aphelinidae
Aphelinidae is a moderate-sized family of tiny parasitic wasps, with some 1160 described species in some 35 genera. These minute insects are challenging to study as they deteriorate rapidly after death unless extreme care is taken , making identification of most museum specimens difficult...
. The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution. The number of existing species is expected to be several times higher because many species are still undescribed. The adult wasps, tiny insects with 1-2 mm in size, are primarily parasitoid
Parasitoid
A parasitoid is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life history attached to or within a single host organism in a relationship that is in essence parasitic; unlike a true parasite, however, it ultimately sterilises or kills, and sometimes consumes, the host...
s of sessile stages of Sternorrhyncha
Sternorrhyncha
Sternorrhyncha is a suborder of the Hemiptera which contains the aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects, groups which were traditionally included in the order Homoptera. "Sternorrhyncha" refers to the rearward position of the mouthparts relative to the head...
, in particular whiteflies
Whitefly
The whiteflies, comprising only the family Aleyrodidae, are small hemipterans. More than 1550 species have been described. Whiteflies typically feed on the underside of plant leaves.-Agricultural threat:...
(Aleyrodidae) and scale insect
Scale insect
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
s (Diaspididae). A few species are known to parasitize aphid
Aphid
Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
s, eggs of shield-back bugs (Plataspidae), and eggs of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
. Females are mostly developing as primary endoparasitoids whereas males are commonly hyperparasitoids of the same or other species.
Species of Encarsia are of particular interest because of their economic importance for biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
, especially in horticulture and for crops grown under glass. Many seem to be extremely host-specific which is an important trait
Trait (biology)
A trait is a distinct variant of a phenotypic character of an organism that may be inherited, environmentally determined or be a combination of the two...
for an acceptable and effective bio-control agent.
Species used in biological control
- Encarsia berlesei Howard: White peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona)
- Encarsia bimaculata Heraty & Polaszek: Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci )
- Encarsia clypealis (Silvestri): Citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumiAleurocanthus woglumiAleurocanthus woglumi is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae. It is a pest of citrus crops and is commonly known as the citrus blackfly because of its slate blue colour. It originated in Asia but has spread to other parts of the world...
) - Encarsia formosaEncarsia formosaEncarsia formosa is a species of wasp and a well known parasitoid of greenhouse whitefly. The tiny females are black with a yellow abdomen and opalescent wings. There are many fewer males than females...
Gahan: Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) - Encarsia herndoni (Girault): Long mussel scale (Lepidosaphes gloverii)
- Encarsia inaron (Walker): Cabbage Whitefly (Aleyrodes proletellaAleyrodes proletellaThe Cabbage Whitefly is a species of whitefly from the Aleyrodidae family. It has a global distribution.Adults are 1,5 mm in length. They have white wings with four gray spots. The wings are white due to a powdery wax. The head and thorax are dark, while the underside is yellow and also...
) and ash whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae) - Encarsia lahorensis (Howard): Citrus whitefly (Dialeurodes citri)
- Encarsia pergandiella Howard: Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci )
- Encarsia perniciosi (Tower): San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus)
- Encarsia perplexaEncarsia perplexaEncarsia perplexa is a tiny parasitic wasp, a parasitoid of the citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi, which is a global pest of citrus trees. It was originally misidentified as Encarsia opulenta, but was recorded as a new species in 1998...
Huang & Polaszek: Citrus blackfly Aleurocanthus woglumiAleurocanthus woglumiAleurocanthus woglumi is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae. It is a pest of citrus crops and is commonly known as the citrus blackfly because of its slate blue colour. It originated in Asia but has spread to other parts of the world... - Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd): Papaya whitefly (Trialeurodes variabilis) and sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci )
- Encarsia tricolor Förster: Cabbage Whitefly (Aleyrodes proletellaAleyrodes proletellaThe Cabbage Whitefly is a species of whitefly from the Aleyrodidae family. It has a global distribution.Adults are 1,5 mm in length. They have white wings with four gray spots. The wings are white due to a powdery wax. The head and thorax are dark, while the underside is yellow and also...
)