Neochrysocharis formosa

Agricultural and horticultural environments; recorded from tomato agroecosystems, bean cultivation systems, and mountain pine forests. Mass rearing occurs on Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) plants under controlled laboratory conditions.

Recorded from Argentina, Spain, Hawaii, and the conterminous United States. GBIF indicates presence in Norway, Hawaii, and the conterminous 48 United States.

Host-feeding parasitoid; parasitizes and host-feeds on larval stages of leafminers (Agromyzidae), particularly Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza trifolii, and Tuta absoluta. Preference for second instar host larvae has been observed. Adults are synovigenic and require sugar sources for oogenesis and longevity.

• Liriomyza huidobrensis - primary host for mass rearing; leafminer (Agromyzidae)Used in laboratory rearing systems on Phaseolus vulgaris
• Liriomyza trifolii - host; leafminer (Agromyzidae)American serpentine leafminer
• Tuta absoluta - host; tomato moth (Gelechiidae)Newly recorded host in Argentina; second instar larvae preferred
• Diprion pini - host; pine sawfly (Diprionidae)Egg parasitoid in mountain forests of Spain
• Phaseolus vulgaris - host plant for rearing systemNot a natural host plant; used in mass rearing protocols

Develops as larval parasitoid inside host larvae. Development time decreases under 16:8 light-dark cycle. After one year of continuous laboratory rearing, fertility declines by approximately 23% and sex ratio shifts toward males. Thelytokous strains reproduce without males; arrhenotokous strains require mating.

Exhibits positive phototactic response used for adult harvesting in mass rearing (94.5% efficiency). Host-feeding behavior occurs alongside parasitism. Shows preference for second instar host larvae over first or third instars. Host-killing rate exceeds intrinsic rate of increase. Synchronized emergence patterns observed under controlled photoperiods.

Biological control agent of leafminer pests in agricultural systems. Used in integrated pest management programs for vegetables and ornamentals. Coexists with other parasitoids such as Diglyphus isaea. Supplements biological control of Tuta absoluta in tomato systems alongside Nesidiocoris tenuis and Necremnus spp.

Important commercial biological control agent for leafminer management in greenhouse and field crops. Mass rearing protocols developed for large-scale production. Sensitivity to insecticides varies: novaluron shows least lethal effects, while spinetoram is highly harmful. Tolerance to λ-cyhalothrin observed in some populations.

• Diglyphus isaeaCoexisting eulophid parasitoid of agromyzid leafminers; both species are host-feeding parasitoids used in biological control. N. formosa exhibits contrasting patterns of ovarian development and oogenesis compared to D. isaea.
• Ganaspidium nigrimanusAnother parasitoid of Liriomyza trifolii; differs in sensitivity to insecticides, with N. formosa showing potential tolerance to λ-cyhalothrin where G. nigrimanus does not.

• parasitoid
• biological control
• leafminer
• Eulophidae
• agricultural pest management
• host-feeding
• thelytoky
• integrated pest management

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Cicindela formosa pigmentosignata (the “reddish-green sand tiger beetle”) | Beetles In The Bush
• Cicindela lengi vs. Cicindela formosa | Beetles In The Bush
• A Termite-Control Twofer: How Baiting One Colony of Formosan Subterranean Termites Can Knock Out the Colony Next Door
• Life history traits and host-killing rate of Neochrysocharis formosa on Tuta absoluta
• Interactions between Diglyphus isaea and Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), two parasitoids of agromyzid leafminers
• Mass rearing of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Eulophidae: Hymenoptera), a parasitoid of leafminers (Agromyzidae: Diptera)
• Oviposition and Larval Development of Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) inside the Host Larvae, Liriomyza trifolii
• Correction to: Life history traits and host-killing rate of Neochrysocharis formosa on Tuta absoluta
• Thelytokous strains have better biocontrol potential than arrhenotokous strains: the parasitoid Neochrysocharis formosa on the invasive tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta as a case study
• Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a newly recorded parasitoid of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in Argentina
• Toxicity of Selective Insecticides to Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasitoid of the American Serpentine Leafminer Liriomyxa trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agrizomydae)
• Effects of selective insecticides on host searching and oviposition behavior of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a larval parasitoid of the American serpentine leafminer
• Contrasting patterns of ovarian development and oogenesis in two sympatric host-feeding parasitoids, Diglyphus isaea and Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
• Comparing Immature Development and Life History Traits in Two Coexisting Host-Feeding Parasitoids, Diglyphus isaea and Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
• Random pattern of parasitism and female-biased sex ratio in the egg parasitoid Neochrysocharis formosa attacking the pine sawfly Diprion pini in mountain forests of Spain
• Host-plant related effects on host feeding, parasitism and sex ratio of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) attacking Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) leafminer
• Effects of Five Naturally Occurring Sugars on the Longevity, Oogenesis, and Nutrient Accumulation Pattern in Adult Females of the Synovigenic Parasitoid Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
• Effects of selected insecticides on adults of two parasitoid species of Liriomyza trifolii: Ganaspidium nigrimanus (Figitidae) and Neochrysocharis formosa (Eulophidae)