User:RCEspin/Peristenus pseudopallipes

Parasitism
P. pseudopapilipes infects the nymphal stage of L. lineolaris between the end of July and the beginning of August. This usually occurs in fields of Erigeron spp., which act as a nectar source for the host. The Peristenus female will lay an egg in the hemolymph of the L. lineolaris nymph. There, three instars of Peristenus will develop. After the Peristenus larvae emerge, the host will persist for a few hours or days. The larvae will weave a cocoon and emerge fourteen days later as an adult. However, the parasite may remain in diapause for one year to reemerge in the spring.

Host Competition
P. pseudopallipes is one of four parasites known to attack L. lineolaris. The other three are Peristenus stygicus, P. digoneutis, P. pallipes.

Biocontrol
Host L. lineolaris feeds on over 300 plant species and causes at least two billion dollars in losses per year. Because P. pseudopallipes and other genus members cause host death shortly after hatching, introducing Peristenus to fields has been considered to control the L. lineolaris population.