Laboratory hybridization between the green lacewings Chrysoperla comanche and C. rufilabris, predators of the Asian citrus psyllid: Implications for biological control.

The Comanche lacewing Chrysoperla comanche and its sibling species C. rufilabris (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are voracious predators of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), an invasive pest that vectors Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, a bacterium that causes the lethal and incurable citrus greening disease. The Comanche lacewing naturally occurs in Southern California, whereas C. rufilabris is currently the only commercially available green lacewing in the United States. The two species can be separated by larval morphological traits and by differences in courtship songs, yet they are not distinguishable based on a mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. Releasing a commercial natural enemy that is able to hybridize with a resident species could affect, among other things, biological control efficacy, depending on factors like the degree of reproductive compatibility, reproductive interference, hybrid fitness. Therefore we performed laboratory crosses to assess pre- and post-zygotic isolation, and also mating choice experiments. We will present the results in light of current efforts to control ACP in Southern California.