ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF EGG PARASITOIDS FROM SOUTH AMERICA:

Specific areas in South America were surveyed from 2000-2005 for egg parasitoids of sharpshooters that are pre-adapted to California’s climate and glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) habitats. At least 20 species were collected; 4 from Argentina readily attacked and bred on GWSS eggs in quarantine. To ensure that the most promising exotic species do not also attack nontarget leafhoppers and other taxa, tests were conducted in both Argentina and the United States to determine effective host range. Laboratory tests with native fauna in Argentina demonstrated that one promising species, Gonatocerus tuberculifemur, did not attack leafhoppers or other insects outside the sharpshooter tribe, Proconiini. Similar results were found in U.S. quarantine using California and Texas leafhoppers. Field host range tests in Argentina showed that G. tuberculifemur emerged from small numbers of leafhoppers within a different tribe (Cicadellini). Questions regarding the taxonomic status of this parasitoid must be resolved. It s that G. tuberculifemur can attack GWSS but not unrelated leafhoppers