First Record of Ooencyrtus nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a Parasitoid of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Florida

During our study on egg parasitoids of the kudzu bug in Florida, we collected egg masses of Megacopta cribraria on kudzu and catnip for laboratory rearing. We found a new egg parasitoid, Ooencyrtus nezarae on M. cribraria, which represents the first Florida record of this parasitoid species. The wasp is widely distributed in Asia, and it will strengthen biological control of the kudzu bug in Florida. Future studies will assess comparative parasitism levels of Paratelenomus saccharalis and O. nezarae, as well as the dynamics of populations of these biological control agents.