Realized Lifetime Parasitism of Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Egg Masses by Gonatocerus Ashmeadi

1. Objectives The main objective was to measure real lifetime contributions of individual female Gonatocerus ashmeadi to parasitism of glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) egg masses in citrus orchards. However it is unknown whether G. ashmeadi is proor syn-ovigenic. Gonatocerus parasitoids are generally classified as strictly pro-ovigenic (Jervis and Copland, 1996). Jervis et al. (2001) calculated ovigeny index (number of mature eggs at emergence divided by potential lifetime fecundity) of 638 species of parasitoids from 28 families and concluded that ovigeny exists on a continuum from strictly pro-ovigenic species (ovigeny index = 1) to extremely synovigenic species (ovigeny index = 0). In order to investigate realized lifetime fecundity of individual G. ashmeadi in the field it is essential to determine whether this parasitoid is proor synovigenic and whether egg maturation or oosorption exist.