Egg parasitoid complex of Leptoglossus zonatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in Florida

Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) is a key pest of Satsuma mandarins in Louisiana and Alabama, and a significant pest of almond and pistachio in the southwestern United States, particularly in California. This species is presently managed exclusively through insecticidal control, an approach that lacks long-term sustainability. Therefore, alternative management strategies, such as using predators and parasitoids for biological control, may provide a feasible and sustainable approach to managing L. zonatus. Some of the most effective biocontrol agents for leaffooted bugs are egg parasitoids. The native egg parasitoid complex of L. zonatus is not fully characterized in Florida, yet this is essential information for initiating a biocontrol strategy for long-term management. To determine the species composition of native egg parasitoids and investigate the predation of L. zonatus eggs, an extensive survey was conducted in North and Central Florida through a sentinel egg mass study. To date, five parasitoid species have been recovered from eggs, and Hadronotus carinatifrons (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is the prevailing species found in five distinct locations across Florida. Additionally, the overall rate of predation was found to be higher than the rate of parasitism. This study provides critical information about the egg parasitoid complex of L. zonatus, which is necessary to develop a sustainable biological control strategy for this emerging pest.