Classical Biological Control of Diaphorina citri in Cyprus: High Parasitism, Population Suppression, and the First Record of the Hyperparasitoid, Marietta leopardina
Journal
Journal of Applied Entomology
ISSN
0931-2048
1439-0418
Date Issued
June 25, 2026
Author(s)
Abstract
Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, was first detected in Cyprus in 2023. This finding initiated an eradication campaign and a classical biological control program based on the introduced ectoparasitoid Tamarixia radiata. Recent integrative taxonomic work revealed the presence of a second primary parasitoid species, Tamarixia citricola, associated with D. citri nymphs in Cypriot citrus orchards. Here, we provide a post-release monitoring update on this biological control program based on field surveys conducted in late October 2025 at citrus sites selected because of previous records of D. citri or recent reports of psyllid activity from the Cypriot Plant Health Services. Overall, adult D. citri abundance was very low; adults were absent from nearly all orchards and were detected at clearly higher levels in only one site, where 60% of tap-sampled flush shoots were positive for adult presence. Nymphs showed a similar pattern, with only sparse, low-density colonies detected across the surveyed orchards. Importantly, the site with the highest D. citri density also showed the highest nymph parasitism (96.2%), consistent with strong parasitoid-associated suppression. Of the primary parasitoids that emerged, 96.9% were T. radiata, whereas 3.1% were T. citricola. For the first time in Cyprus, we also recorded the hyperparasitoid Marietta leopardina, which reached 26.7% hyperparasitism and showed a marked association with primary parasitoids developing in third-instar nymphs. These results support the important role of T. radiata in the current classical biological control program in Cyprus and underscore the need for continued monitoring to understand better emerging trophic interactions that may influence long-term outcomes.
Affiliation
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Developmentand the Environment
Funding
This work was supported by IVIA-GVA, IVIA-52202F, Department of Agriculture, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment in Cyprus, NPPO.
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