Tetracnemoidea Howard 1898a

Zuparko, Robert L., 2015, Annotated Checklist of California Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera), Zootaxa 4017 (1), pp. 1-126 : 63-64

Tetracnemoidea Howard 1898a

Hosts. Hemiptera : Pseudococcidae

brevicornis ( Girault 1915e: 174) (Arhopoideus)

Type. QM

Distribution. E (Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego)

Host/habitat. Pseudococcus calceolariae , P. longispinus , P. maritimus , P. viburni

Remarks. Imported from Australia in 1928 in a biological control program against Pseudococcus calceolariae , this species was released at several sites in Southern California, and immediately established ( Bartlett 1978c, as Hungariella pretiosa ). Pseudococcus comstocki is not a proven host (see Methods). In California, I have found the three described species of the genus can occur sympatrically on urban shade trees.

peregrina ( Compere 1939b: 59) (Tetracnemus)

Type. USNM

Distribution. E (Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo)

Host/habitat. Ferrisia virgata , Pseudococcus calceolariae , P. longispinus , P. maritimus , P. viburni , P. sp.

Remarks. Imported from Brazil in 1934 and released in a biocontrol program against Pseudococcus longispinus , this species became established in southern California ( Bartlett 1978c). Dysmicoccus brevipes , Pseudococcus comstocki , and P. njalensis are not proven hosts (see Methods). Additionally, Onillon (1988: 484) reports the use of T. peregrina in a partially successful biocontrol program against Pseudococcus citriculus in Israel, citing DeBach (1964); however DeBach (1964: 681) reported that parasitoid only in programs against P. longispinus in California and Bermuda. Noyes (2001), citing Wysoki et al (1989), reported Pseudococcus sp. as a host; however Wysoki et al. (1989) were referring to P. longispinus .

sydneyensis ( Timberlake 1929: 18) (Anarhopus)

Type. USNM

Distribution. E (Alameda, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, Placer, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Ventura)

Host/habitat. Pseudococcus calceolariae , P. longispinus

Remarks. Imported from Australia in 1933 in a biocontrol program against P. longispinus , this species was released and established in southern California, and in conjunction with T. peregrina provided excellent control of the mealybug ( Bartlett 1978c). Pseudococcus comstocki and P. njalensis are not proven hosts (see Methods). One specimen was reportedly reared from a Protopulvinaria species in Los Angeles County (UCRC), but this is probably a misidentification of the host.

spp.

Remarks. Specimens from Alameda, Fresno, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus counties (EMEC, RLZC, SBMN) represent an undescribed species, and single specimens from San Diego (UCRC) and Marin (RLZC) represent two additional species.