Two Native Anagrus spp. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) Are Egg Parasitoids of the Invasive Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Florida, USA

The two-spot cotton leafhopper, <i>Amrasca biguttula</i> (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was recently detected in Florida and other southeastern states, USA. This is a quarantine pest of regulatory significance, since it can infest staple crops, such as okra, cotton, eggplant, and tropical hibiscus. While collecting infested okra plants in Homestead, Florida, five female <i>Anagrus</i> (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) parasitoids emerged from eggs of <i>Am. biguttula</i>. The specimens were identified morphologically and molecularly by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal RNA. Two <i>Anagrus</i> species were identified: <i>Anagrus vulneratus</i> and <i>Anagrus</i> sp. near <i>vulneratus</i>. These parasitoids are not known to occur in the Old World, the origin of <i>Am. biguttula</i>. Rather, they are native to North America. The available evidence suggests that the collected specimens switched from unknown local hosts in southern Florida to parasitize eggs of the invasive <i>Am. biguttula</i>. Future research to ascertain the identity of <i>A.</i> sp. near <i>vulneratus</i> and evaluate the efficiency of both parasitoids as natural enemies of <i>Am. biguttula</i> is warranted.