Description and biological parameters of Ooencyrtus isabellae Guerrieri and Noyes sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae), a potential biocontrol agent of Zophiuma butawengi (Heller) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Lophopidae) in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The planthopper Zophiuma butawengi (Heller) (= Z. lobulata Ghauri) is a serious pest of coconut and oil palm in Papua New Guinea, causing palm decay known as Finschhafen disorder. Recently, two dominant species of parasitoids emerged from egg masses of this pest, namely Parastethynium maxwelli (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) and an undescribed species of Ooencyrtus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The latter species, here described, appears to be a potential biocontrol agent of Z. butawengi especially in the New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea. Biological features of the new species, i.e. development time and adult longevity, were also calculated to give information that could help in its use in biological control programmes.

Keywords:

• Zophiuma lobulata
• Ooencyrtus minor
• Ooencyrtus major
• Ooencyrtus shakespearei
• Ooencyrtus uthetheise

Acknowledgements

This paper is an output of a project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) grant CP/2006/063 entitled “Integrated pest management for Finschhafen Disorder of oil palm in Papua New Guinea”. The authors thank PNGOPRA entomology staff for their assistance in collecting egg masses of Zophiuma butawengi from the field.