Biology of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Gypsophila paniculata L., under commercial greenhouse

Abstract

Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) leafminer of Gypsophila paniculata L. (Caryophy­Ilaceae). The females lay the eggs under both the lower and upper epidermis of the leaf. The oval-shaped eggs complete their development in 5-6 days. The larval stage has three instars which can be differentiated by the size of the mouth hooks size and the spiracles number, the larvae complete their development approxi­mately 17 days; the prepupa duration is 9.25 hours and the pupa stage dura­tion is 14 to 17 days. At the moment of the imago emergence, the sex relation was 1:1. The female is longer in size and has greater longevity than the mate. This specie is strongly polyphagous. Some species were fonded as natural enemies of L. huidobrensis, such as Hymenoptera parasites of larvae stage, belonging to three families: Diglyphus sp. poss. Intermedius (Girault) and Ghrysocharis sp. of Eulophidae, Opius sp. of Braconidae, and one specie of Cynipidae.