Collected by sweeping Eucalyptus trees at Teyechea Park
Coordinates: 31.346410, -110.932488
I first observed leaf galls on a Eucalyptus tree in Rio Rico, AZ on February 19, 2017 at coordinates: 31.468314, -110.974140. I also collected galls from several locations in Rio Rico and Nogales and placed them into 1 gallon Ziploc bags, but repeatedly failed to rear adults until June 6, 2017, when I detected a single female wasp in one of the bags. On June 4, a few minutes of sweeping Eucalyptus trees resulted in the capture of over a hundred wasps. My tentative ID was confirmed by Dr. Michael Gates, who coincidentally identified the first interception of this wasp in the US (Florida, 2008). As far as I know, this is only the second time that this species has been reported anywhere in the States. This Eulophid is an invasive pest native of Queensland Australia. Its spread first gained notoriety in Italy, Algeria, and other countries in the year 2000. Now it is established in Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, Latin American, and the Caribbean. In North America, it was reported from Mexico City and surrounding regions in 2014 and from Broward County, Florida in 2008. Reports indicate that its impact is greatest in young Eucalyptus plants. Next, I would like to find out if there are any local parasitoids associated with this wasp.
Scale in the image in 1/10 mm.