The Citrus Leafminer (CLM) Phyllocnistis
citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is considered
an important pest of citrus, damagingmainly nursery
plants. In Greece it was first recorded on the island of
Rhodes in 1995 and rapidly spread to all citrus growing
areas of the country. Due to its wide expansion and
damage, efforts were initiated to control this pest with
biological control agents. For this purpose, a number of
exotic parasitoids, such as Citrostichus phyllocnistoides
(Narayanan), Quadrastichus sp. Girault and Semielacher
petiolata (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), were introduced,
reared in insectaries and released in several
regions of Greece. The species composition and the
seasonal abundance of the native parasitoids, as well as
the recovery of the released parasitoids, were investigated
in weekly samplings during 1998 and 1999 in
a citrus orchard in Argolis district. Results showed
that among the released parasitoids, only C.
phyllocnistoides was recovered. Among the native
parasitoids, Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood),
Pnigalio pectinicornis (L.) and Cirrospilus sp.
Westwood (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were identified.
The most abundant parasitoid species was the exotic
C. phyllocnistoides. The highest percent of parasitism
in 1999 increased approximately by 46% compared