Development of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) on different commercial clones of Eucalyptus

Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an exotic pest of Australian origin with a sucking habit. This insect prefers feeding on the new leaves and shoots of eucalyptus plants. Temperature and host types affect the duration of this insect life cycle. Damage caused by G. brimblecombei include leaf discoloration, dieback, and reduction in the photosynthetic area, growth and wood production of eucalyptus plants. Breeding techniques facilitate the mass production of G. brimblecombei and its natural enemies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of G. brimblecombei in four treatments, two clones of Eucalyptus urophylla (clones 1 and 2) and two of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla (clones 3 and 4), and the potential to mass produce individuals of this pest in the laboratory for the multiplication of its natural enemy, Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The experiment was conducted in standard rearing cages with six eucalyptus plants and the release of forty pairs of G. brimblecombei per plant, with three replications per treatment. The number of G. brimblecombei eggs was greater on clones 2 and 4 and nymph viability and adult production on clone 2. The sex ratio was similar between treatments. The development and reproduction of G. brimblecombei confirms the adaptation of this insect to the clones of E. urophylla and E. grandis x E. urophylla, previously considered deterrents to oviposition by its females. The development of G. brimblecombei was better on clone 2 (E. urophylla) and it can be used to mass produce this insect with 285.3 insects produced per generation in each cage with forty pairs, representing 7.13 individuals produced per female of this insect.