First record of Closterocerus chamaeleon, parasitoid of the Eucalyptus Gall Wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae), in the New World

Abstract

The uniparental parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) is discovered to be fortuitously present on a population of the invasive Eucalyptus Gall Wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) in Riverside, California. This is the first report from the New World of C. chamaeleon, which has proven to be a highly effective natural enemy of O. maskelli in the Mediterranean Basin. The taxonomy and identification of C. chamaeleon is discussed.