Study on natural enemies and nymphal parasitism rate of the sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis in South of Khuzestan, Iran

Outbreak of sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis Corbett has occurred in the fields of sugarcane in Khuzestan province in recent years. The pest activity starts from early August and continues until late November. The aim of this study was to identify natural enemies and parasitism rate of the dominant species on the sugarcane whitefly in the south of Khuzestan. Adult wasps were collected directly by an aspirator from undersides of leaves. Pupae of the pest were also collected from field and then twere reared in the laboratory conditions (27◦C) until emerging of adult wasps. Number of parasitized nymphs were then counted and calculated for parasitism rate. Two collected parasitoid wasps on nymphs were identified as known Encarsia inaron (Walker) and Eretmocerus sp. (Hym., Aphelinidae). A true bug was also observed on the colony of nymphs. It appears that ants feed on eggs of the whitefly. During 2006, Results showed that the parasitism rate of the nymphs was over 30 percent in October and parasitism increased gradually to 85 percent to the late November. The parasitoids wasps have high potential to control nymphs of the sugarcane whitefly in this region.