First Record of Leptocybe invasa Fischer & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) males from Uruguay

The blue gum chalcid, Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is one of the main invasive insect pests on Eucalyptus nurseries and plantations worldwide. It has been responsible for great losses to forestry companies, associated with the halting of forestry activity, replacement of genetic material, and the discarding of highly susceptible commercial clones. Thelytokous parthenogenesis is the most important reproductive mechanism because males are scarce and their function is unknown. L. invasa has been present in Uruguay since 2011, but in February and March of 2019, only females were observed. The objectives of this work are to report for the first time the presence of L. invasa males in Uruguay and an analyze the importance of this fact for the country. During 2018 and 2019, collections of branches with L. invasa galls were made in several departments of Uruguay. In three vials with L. invasa samples from February and March 2019, we observed six males. The samples were from three localities of the Tacuarembó department. The female proportion was 0.99, 0.95, and 0.94, respectively, similar to those observed in Argentina. Future studies should be focused on the L. invasa male function in the species' fitness to adapt to a new host. To study whether there is a seasonality in the emergence of the blue gum chalcid wasp males and their impact on these pest management strategies.