| Active principle: APHYTIS MELINUS |
| General schedule |
Aphytis melinus is a hymenopterous that parasitizes the Aonidiella aurantii, the strong red cochineal of the citrus fruit; it is in position to install itself, with success, in the citrus grove, with inoculated throwing .
The adults, yellowish and long few less than 1mm., are characterized by a good mobility. The female inserts the egg inside the badge, depositing it on the body of the victim, after that it is paralyzed. Also the host feeding action is meaningful: a big part of cochineals are directly killed with the ovopositors to obtain nourishment from the fluids that escape from the provoked wound.
The larval cycle ends inside the badge of the cochineal. The grubs, after the opening of the eggs,start to feed themselves with the body of the guest. The period of development, from egg to adult, lasts around 12 days, at the end of it the body of the cochineal results consumed. When this assistant reaches the stadium of pupa and then flutters, remain the residues of the guest and the typical traces of the faecal activity of the parasitoid.
The distribution of this assistant, at the stadium of adult, happens with more programmed throwing, during the different weeks from the spring to the autumn, with possible suspension in the period of greater heat, for a total of 60.000-100.000 individuals for hectare. |
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