Can the Choice Behavior and Fitness of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) be Affected by the Citrus (Sapindales: Rutaceae) Variety Used to Rear the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae)?

Abstract Several studies have shown that the host plant influences the bioecological parameters of both pest insects and their natural enemies; however, few studies have evaluated the effect of varieties of the same plant species. This study evaluated the host-choice behavior (by a free-choice test) of Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on nymphs of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) reared on 4 sweet orange (Sapindales: Rutaceae) varieties (Hamlin, Pera, Natal, and Valencia), and its development (biology) in nymphs reared on these same varieties, on a mandarin (cv. Ponkan), and on orange jasmine. The host-choice behavior was not affected by the host on which D. citri was reared, showing that T. radiata has a degree of plasticity in interpreting the cues for host location. In the free-choice test, the hosts did not affect the percentage of parasitism. The emergence parameter, regardless of the host used, showed viability (egg to adult) above 80% for all varieties, with th...