Coccidoxenoides perminutus parasitizing Planococcus citri on vine in Brazil

ABSTRACT: From those of the mealybug family, the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citriRisso, 1813 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is frequently held responsible for various diseases occurring in vineyards. This is a first time report in Brazil, on the occurrence of a parasitoid controlling P. citri. In our search for the natural enemies of P. citri, bunches of grapes with the vine were collected every week for one month, in those regions where table grapes were produced, like Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. In these samples, among the natural pest infestations Coccidoxenoides perminutusGirault, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was the only natural enemy species reported. In this research, we attempted to study the potential of parasitism as well as the strategies that this natural agent uses in pest control