Jackson, A. 1995 . The reproductive biology and behaviour of 'Leptomastidea abnormis', a hymenopterous parasitoid of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri. Ph.D. thesis, London, Wye College. Wye, UK

Notes: (Ph.D. thesis, London, Wye College.) The reproductive behaviour and activity of a hymenopterous parasitoid, Leptomastidea abnormis (Girault), was examined using a combination of laboratory and glasshouse studies, with respect to its ability to control its host the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso). Female and male parasitoids differed in their daily patterns of activity, and in their responses to different light intensities. Maximum activity in females occurred at a light intensity of 38 Wm2, while activity in both sexes was inhibited at 120 Wm2. Females were not entrained by the light/dark regime under which they were reared. L. abnormis apportions different amounts of search time to different activities according to the host related stimulus they are responding to. Honeydew has a significant effect on the searching behaviour of the parasitoid. The rate of oogenesis is affected by temperature, an equal rate of egg production was achieved in females incubated at a constant 28°C as in those incubated at a cycling temperature regime of 6 hours at 28°C and 18 hours at 18°C. A new method to examine egg production was examined. Females are capable of oviposition immediately after eclosion. Any pre-ovipositional period is shorter than 3 hours. Most ovipositional activity occurs, when observed under constant light conditions, between midday and early afternoon. Peak ovipositional activity occurs in females aged 72 hours. The dominant factors affecting the outcome of parasitism are host density and parasitoid density. More hosts are parasitized in a clumped rather than in a dispersed distribution. Mutual interference occurs in females searching at a medium host density, while at high host density parasitism is density dependent. L. abnormis is considered to be a potentially useful biological control agent of P. citri in glasshouses.