''Encarsia'' is a large genus of minute
parasitic wasps
Parasitoid wasps are a large group of hymenopteran superfamilies, with all but the wood wasps ( Orussoidea) being in the wasp-waisted Apocrita. As parasitoids, they lay their eggs on or in the bodies of other arthropods, sooner or later ca ...
of the family
Aphelinidae. The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution.
[ Noyes, J. S. 2003]
Universal Chalcidoidea database
/ref> The number of existing species is expected to be several times higher because many species are still undescribed.[Heraty, J. M., et al. (2008) Systematics and Biology of ''Encarsia''. Chapter 4, pp. 71-87 In: Gould, J., et al. (Eds), In: Classical Biological Control of ''Bemisia tabaci'' in the United States. A review of interagency research and implementation. Progress in Biological Control 4. Springer Science and Business Media B. V. 1-343.] ''Encarsia'' is a very complex genus, with specimens showing both inter- and intra-specific variations, making morphological classification difficult.
The adult wasps, tiny insects about 1 or 2 millimeters in size, are primarily parasitoid
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...
s of sessile stages of Sternorrhyncha
The Sternorrhyncha suborder of the Hemiptera contains the aphids, whitefly, whiteflies, and scale insects, groups which were traditionally included in the now-obsolete order "Homoptera". The name "Sternorrhyncha" refers to the rearward position of ...
, in particular whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) and scale insect
Scale insects are small insects of the Order (biology), order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient g ...
s (Diaspididae). A few species are known to parasitize aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white Eriosomatinae, woolly ...
s, eggs of shield-back bugs (Plataspidae), and eggs of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...
. Females mostly develop as primary endoparasitoids, and males are commonly hyperparasitoids of the same or other species. This so-called heteronomy, a sexually dimorphic host relationship, occurs in quite a few species.
Species of ''Encarsia'' are of particular interest because of their economic importance for biological pest control, especially in horticulture and for crops grown under glass. Many seem to be extremely host-specific which is an important trait for an acceptable and effective bio-control agent.
Species used in biological control
* '' Encarsia berlesei'' on white peach scale ('' Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'')[
* '' Encarsia inaron'' on cabbage whitefly ('' Aleyrodes proletella'')][
* '' Encarsia lutea'' on silverleaf whitefly ('' Bemisia tabaci''/''Bemisia argentifolii'') and greenhouse whitefly (''Trialeurodes vaporariorum'')][
* '' Encarsia perplexa'' (syn. ''Encarsia opulenta'') on citrus blackfly (''Aleurocanthus woglumi'')
* '' Encarsia sophia'' on papaya whitefly (''Trialeurodes variabilis'') and sweet potato whitefly (''Bemisia tabaci'')][Luo, C. and T. X. Liu. (2011)]
Fitness of ''Encarsia sophia'' (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) parasitizing ''Trialeurodes vaporariorum'' and ''Bemisia tabaci'' (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).
''Insect Science'' 18(1), 84-91.
* '' Encarsia tricolor'' on cabbage whitefly (''Aleyrodes proletella'')[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4038048
Aphelinidae
Hymenoptera genera