Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) galls parasitized by Megastigmus sp. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae): first record in Indonesia on a new host plant, Eucalyptus brassiana (Myrtaceae)

Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is a gall wasp that infests Eucalyptus L'Her. (Myrtaceae) species and their crosses in nurseries, orchards and plantations. This pest infests the young plants, coppice shoots and both middle aged and old trees in an ever-increasing number of countries around the world; making it important to record new countries with incidences, as well as new host plants and associated parasitoids of this pest. The objectives of this paper were to record, for the first time, L. invasa galls parasitized by Megastigmus sp. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) on a new host plant, Eucalyptus brassiana S.T. Blake in Indonesia and key biological data from this association. The number of galls was similar between branch parts (petioles, midribs and stems) and branches. The number of emerged adults differed between their species (L. invasa and Megastigmus sp.) with a higher number for the pest, but similar between branches. The occurrence of L. invasa in Indonesia is alarming as this country is a large producer of paper, pulp and viscose materials from Eucalyptus wood for local and foreign markets. However, its parasitism by Megastigmus opens the possibility to develop biological control programs.

Automated summary

Leptocybe invasa is a gall wasp that infests Eucalyptus trees worldwide. This study reports the first record of L. invasa galls parasitized by Megastigmus on a new host plant, Eucalyptus brassiana, in Indonesia. The occurrence of L. invasa in Indonesia raises concerns due to the country's significant role in Eucalyptus wood production, but the parasitism by Megastigmus opens the opportunity for biological control programs.