Citrus is grown as a commercial crop in several areas surrounding Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Twelve miles South-west of Grahamstown is an orchard of about 6000 trees on the farm "Mosslands". This orchard attracted attention as the insect pests of citrus have been kept at a sub-economic level by natural biological control since 1949. This orchard is completely surrounded by indigenous bush and originally the object of this study was to see, in how far, the insect fauna of the indigenous bush was infuencing the biological control which had been achieved in the orchard. As citrus is a member of the family Rutaceae, four indigenous plants in this family, which occured in the indigenous bush, were chosen for a closer study of their associated insect fauna. This study continued for a year during which time a bewildering number of insects and their parasites were collected and it was realized that only an investigation of a very specific aspect of the problem could possibly yield meaningful results. As a starting point, therefore, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (Homoptera: Psyllidae), the South African citrus psyllid, was singled out. This psyllid was found on citrus at "Mosslands" and was also found on all but one of the indigenous rutaceous plants. It was chosen for study because of its polyphagous habit and because very little is known of the biology of this economically important species in South Africa. Also very little work has been done on the Psyllidae generally. Intro., p. 1.

1. Fifteen parasite species comprising the T. erytreae complex in Salisbury are listed. 2. Detailed, illustrated accounts are given of the biology of two primary parasites, Tetrastichus Pradiatus Waterston and Psyllaephagus pulvinatus (Waterston ), and their main hyperparasite, Aphidencyrtus cassatus Annecke. 3. The biology of the remaining twelve less important hyperparasites is briefly described and illustrated. 4. Keys are given to the adults, pupae and pupal remains of the parasites. 5 . The population fluctuations of T. erytreae and its parasites, as determined from field studies in the Salisbury area, are reported . 6. The interrelationships between T. erytreae and its parasites are summarised and discussed. Summary, p. 89.

This thesis addressed the potential of endemic predaceous and parasitic arthropods of the Hood River Valley, Oregon to suppress the pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola F8rster. Natural enemies adequately suppressed psylla in three of seven unsprayed orchards of differing vegetational settings, orchard age, and size. Relatively few psylla natural enemies dispersed to unsprayed pear mini-orchards, dspite abundant populations on surrounding noncultivated vegetation. Pear psylla natural enemies were more abundant on arboreal rather than herbaceous non-pear hosts. Selective programs of pear pest control based on diflubenzuron were moderately successful in controlling the pear psylla, with natural enemies aiding in suppression in six of fourteen commercial trials of selective programs. In both unsprayed and commercial pear orchards, late-season psylla densities appeared to be best suppressed when levels of natural enemies were high during early-season. Classification analysis confirmed that orchard site, chemical regime, type (mini- or commercial), and season affected proportions of natural enemies and their pear psylla prey. Complexes of natural enemies and pear psylla immatures from commercial orchards where biological control was successfully demonstrated were taxonomically similar. Effective natural enemy complexes in commercial orchards were characterized by earwigs, lacewing larvae, and moderate proportions of pear psylla immatures during early season and Deraeocoris brevis, earwigs, and lacewings during mid-season. Plagiognathous guttatipes (Uhler) or Diaphnocoris provancheri (Burque) dominated effective natural enemy seasonal complexes at each of two mini-orchards. The functional response to pear psylla eggs was measured for five predaceous mirids. Functional response parameters differed among species and their life-stages, but all destroyed large numbers of psylla eggs. Further experimental directions for the implementation of pear psylla biological control are proposed. General investigative strategies include: (1) augment natural enemies on non-pear vegetation adjacent to the target orchard, and (2) modify the orchard habitat to both encourage natural enemy colonization and allow permanent complexes of natural enemies to develop. Specific tactics include: plant hedgerows of filbert or willow, cultivate snakeflies, introduce Anthocoris nemoralis, adjust early season psylla densities with suitable timing and kind of delayed dormant sprays, using a more effective selective psyllacide, and reduce winter pruning to allow development of natural enemies which overwinter in the egg stage. / Graduation date: 1992

O \"huanglongbing\" (HLB), ou \"greening\" dos citros, tem sido considerada a pior e mais destrutiva doença que ocorre em cultivares comerciais de citros do mundo. Até hoje, não se conhecem medidas eficientes para o controle da doença. Apesar disso, são recomendadas três medidas que podem reduzir a disseminação da mesma, (1) propagação de material sadio, (2) eliminação de planta sintomática tão logo seja constatada e (3) redução da população do vetor, o psilídeo Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. O HLB foi constatado no Brasil, no estado de São Paulo, em março de 2004. Desde então, foram constatadas duas bactérias associadas a plantas com sintomas, \"Candidatus Liberibacter americanus\" e \"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus\", ambas transmitidas por D. citri. A proposta deste trabalho foi estudar: (1) a distribuição temporal deste inseto em pomares comerciais de laranja (Citrus sinensis) nas regiões de Araras, Bauru, Botucatu, Casa Branca, Lins e São Carlos, estado de São Paulo, no período de julho de 2004 a junho de 2007, (2) a distribuição espacial de D. citri em Bauru, Botucatu, Franca, Lins e São Carlos com base na relação variância/média, coeficiente de Taylor e índice de Morisita, (3) inimigos naturais de D. citri e taxas de parasitismo de ninfas do psilídeo por Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) em diferentes pomares, no período de 2005 a 2007 e (4) a tabela de vida ecológica das fases imaturas deste inseto, em Araras e Piracicaba, por quatro gerações. As proporções de ramos de C. sinensis infestados por ninfas e adultos do psilídeo variaram de 0 a 68,3% e se mostraram dependentes da disponibilidade de ramos em crescimento (novos), embora o tamanho da população seja dependente do clima. A maior infestação de ninfas foi observada em São Carlos e as maiores infestações de adultos ocorreram em Bauru, Botucatu, Lins e São Carlos. Por outro lado, as menores proporções de ramos infestados foram observadas em Araras e Casa Branca. D. citri mostrou uma distribuição do tipo agregada, tanto para a fase ninfal quanto para a fase adulta. Não foram observados coccinelídeos predando ovos ou ninfas do psilídeo. A predação de D. citri por crisopídeos foi muito baixa nas condições estudadas. As taxas médias de parasitismo de ninfas, de quarto e quinto ínstares, por T. radiata variaram entre as áreas amostradas e épocas, de 0 a 91,6%, sendo tal parasitismo variável de acordo com a cultivar de citros. Na tabela de vida ecológica, verificou-se que as durações do período de ovo a adulto, em campo, foram semelhantes entre as quatro gerações, de 18,0 a 24,7 dias (temperaturas médias de 21,6 a 26,0°C) e seguiram os modelos de exigências térmicas do inseto obtidos em laboratório. Entretanto, as viabilidades deste mesmo período variaram consideravelmente, de 1,7 a 21,4%, sendo que as maiores mortalidades foram verificadas nas fases de ovo e ninfa pequena (primeiro a terceiro ínstares), as quais são consideradas fatores chaves para o crescimento populacional da praga. / Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, has been considered the worst and most destructive disease that occurs in all citrus varieties in the world. Until today, effective control measures are unknown. However, three main measures have been recommended that may reduce the spread of the disease: (1) propagation of healthy plants; (2) elimination of symptomatic trees as soon as they are observed; and (3) reduction of the insect vector population, the citrus psylla Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. HLB was first found in Brazil in the State of São Paulo in March 2004. Since then, two bacteria were found associated with plants with symptoms, \"Candidatus Liberibacter americanus\" and \"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus\", both transmitted by D. citri. This research aimed to study: (1) the seasonal distribution of D. citri in citrus groves (Citrus sinensis) in Araras, Bauru, Botucatu, Casa Branca, Lins and São Carlos, State of São Paulo, from July 2004 through June 2007; (2) the spatial distribution of D. citri in Bauru, Botucatu, Franca, Lins and São Carlos according to the variance/mean ratio, Taylor\'s power law coefficients, and Morisitas index; (3) natural enemies of D. citri and parasitism rates of citrus psylla nymphs by Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in different groves in three years, 2005, 2006, and 2007; and (4) the ecological life table of the immature stages of this insect, in Araras and Piracicaba, over four generations. The proportions of C. sinensis flushes or branches infested with nymphs and adults of citrus psylla ranged from 0 to 68.3%, and were dependent on the availability of new flushes, although population size depends on the climate. The largest infestation of nymphs was observed in São Carlos and the largest infestations of adults occurred in Bauru, Botucatu, Lins, and São Carlos. On the other hand, the lowest proportions of infested flushes or branches were observed in Araras and Casa Branca. D. citri nymphs and adults showed an aggregate distribution. No coccinellids were observed preying on eggs and nymphs of D. citri. Predation of D. citri by lacewings was very low under the conditions studied. The average parasitism rates of fourth- and fifth-instar nymphs by T. radiata varied among the sampled areas and seasons from 0 to 91.6%, and also varied with citrus variety. In the ecological life table, the mean developmental period from egg to adult in the field was similar between the four generations, 18.0 to 24.7 days (average temperatures of 21.6 to 26.0°C) and values were not different from the thermal requirement models obtained in the laboratory. However, immature survival ranged considerably, from 1.7 to 21.4%, and the highest mortalities were observed in eggs and small nymphs (first to third instars), which are considered the key factors for population growth of the pest.

O \"huanglongbing\" (HLB), ou \"greening\" dos citros, tem sido considerada a pior e mais destrutiva doença que ocorre em cultivares comerciais de citros do mundo. Até hoje, não se conhecem medidas eficientes para o controle da doença. Apesar disso, são recomendadas três medidas que podem reduzir a disseminação da mesma, (1) propagação de material sadio, (2) eliminação de planta sintomática tão logo seja constatada e (3) redução da população do vetor, o psilídeo Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. O HLB foi constatado no Brasil, no estado de São Paulo, em março de 2004. Desde então, foram constatadas duas bactérias associadas a plantas com sintomas, \"Candidatus Liberibacter americanus\" e \"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus\", ambas transmitidas por D. citri. A proposta deste trabalho foi estudar: (1) a distribuição temporal deste inseto em pomares comerciais de laranja (Citrus sinensis) nas regiões de Araras, Bauru, Botucatu, Casa Branca, Lins e São Carlos, estado de São Paulo, no período de julho de 2004 a junho de 2007, (2) a distribuição espacial de D. citri em Bauru, Botucatu, Franca, Lins e São Carlos com base na relação variância/média, coeficiente de Taylor e índice de Morisita, (3) inimigos naturais de D. citri e taxas de parasitismo de ninfas do psilídeo por Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) em diferentes pomares, no período de 2005 a 2007 e (4) a tabela de vida ecológica das fases imaturas deste inseto, em Araras e Piracicaba, por quatro gerações. As proporções de ramos de C. sinensis infestados por ninfas e adultos do psilídeo variaram de 0 a 68,3% e se mostraram dependentes da disponibilidade de ramos em crescimento (novos), embora o tamanho da população seja dependente do clima. A maior infestação de ninfas foi observada em São Carlos e as maiores infestações de adultos ocorreram em Bauru, Botucatu, Lins e São Carlos. Por outro lado, as menores proporções de ramos infestados foram observadas em Araras e Casa Branca. D. citri mostrou uma distribuição do tipo agregada, tanto para a fase ninfal quanto para a fase adulta. Não foram observados coccinelídeos predando ovos ou ninfas do psilídeo. A predação de D. citri por crisopídeos foi muito baixa nas condições estudadas. As taxas médias de parasitismo de ninfas, de quarto e quinto ínstares, por T. radiata variaram entre as áreas amostradas e épocas, de 0 a 91,6%, sendo tal parasitismo variável de acordo com a cultivar de citros. Na tabela de vida ecológica, verificou-se que as durações do período de ovo a adulto, em campo, foram semelhantes entre as quatro gerações, de 18,0 a 24,7 dias (temperaturas médias de 21,6 a 26,0°C) e seguiram os modelos de exigências térmicas do inseto obtidos em laboratório. Entretanto, as viabilidades deste mesmo período variaram consideravelmente, de 1,7 a 21,4%, sendo que as maiores mortalidades foram verificadas nas fases de ovo e ninfa pequena (primeiro a terceiro ínstares), as quais são consideradas fatores chaves para o crescimento populacional da praga. / Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, has been considered the worst and most destructive disease that occurs in all citrus varieties in the world. Until today, effective control measures are unknown. However, three main measures have been recommended that may reduce the spread of the disease: (1) propagation of healthy plants; (2) elimination of symptomatic trees as soon as they are observed; and (3) reduction of the insect vector population, the citrus psylla Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. HLB was first found in Brazil in the State of São Paulo in March 2004. Since then, two bacteria were found associated with plants with symptoms, \"Candidatus Liberibacter americanus\" and \"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus\", both transmitted by D. citri. This research aimed to study: (1) the seasonal distribution of D. citri in citrus groves (Citrus sinensis) in Araras, Bauru, Botucatu, Casa Branca, Lins and São Carlos, State of São Paulo, from July 2004 through June 2007; (2) the spatial distribution of D. citri in Bauru, Botucatu, Franca, Lins and São Carlos according to the variance/mean ratio, Taylor\'s power law coefficients, and Morisitas index; (3) natural enemies of D. citri and parasitism rates of citrus psylla nymphs by Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in different groves in three years, 2005, 2006, and 2007; and (4) the ecological life table of the immature stages of this insect, in Araras and Piracicaba, over four generations. The proportions of C. sinensis flushes or branches infested with nymphs and adults of citrus psylla ranged from 0 to 68.3%, and were dependent on the availability of new flushes, although population size depends on the climate. The largest infestation of nymphs was observed in São Carlos and the largest infestations of adults occurred in Bauru, Botucatu, Lins, and São Carlos. On the other hand, the lowest proportions of infested flushes or branches were observed in Araras and Casa Branca. D. citri nymphs and adults showed an aggregate distribution. No coccinellids were observed preying on eggs and nymphs of D. citri. Predation of D. citri by lacewings was very low under the conditions studied. The average parasitism rates of fourth- and fifth-instar nymphs by T. radiata varied among the sampled areas and seasons from 0 to 91.6%, and also varied with citrus variety. In the ecological life table, the mean developmental period from egg to adult in the field was similar between the four generations, 18.0 to 24.7 days (average temperatures of 21.6 to 26.0°C) and values were not different from the thermal requirement models obtained in the laboratory. However, immature survival ranged considerably, from 1.7 to 21.4%, and the highest mortalities were observed in eggs and small nymphs (first to third instars), which are considered the key factors for population growth of the pest.