Leptocybe invasa males and the parasitoid Quadrastichus mendeli (Hym.: Eulophidae): First report in Paraguay

Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) forms galls in tips, young branches, central veins, and petioles of Eucalyptus spp. leaves. This insect reproduces primarily through thelytokous parthenogenesis, with males being rare. The parasitism of L. invasa by Quadrastichus mendeli Kim & La Salle, 2008 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), with short life cycle and rapid dispersion, is high. The objective was to record the first occurrence of L. invasa males and its parasitoid Q. mendeli in galls of this pest in Paraguay. Branches of the grancam clone PL 113 (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis) with L. invasa galls were collected from February to April 2022 in the Maciel District, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. These branches were put in plastic bags, preserved in 70% ethanol and the insects emerged sent to the Laboratory of Biological Control of Forest Pests (LCBPF) at FCA/UNESP in Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil. Morphological characteristics confirmed the presence of L. invasa males at a ratio of 38:1 (females to males). Morphological and molecular analysis identified Q. mendeli and its samples deposited in GenBank (OR248672.1). The parasitism rate of L. invasa by Q. mendeli was 26.8%, marking the first record of this occurrence in Paraguay.