Hymenopteran Parasitoids on Fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Latin America and the Southern United States: Diversity, Distribution, Taxonomic Status and their use in Fruit Fly Biological Control

We first discuss the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of the Neotropics. Even though the emphasis is on Anastrepha parasitoids, we also review all the information available on parasitoids attacking flies in the genera Ceratitis, Rhagoletis, Rhagoletotrypeta, Toxotrypana and Zonosemata. We center our analysis in parasitoid guilds, parasitoid assemblage size and fly host profiles. We also discuss distribution patterns and the taxonomic status of all known Anastrepha parasitoids. We follow by providing a historical overview of biological control of pestiferous tephritids in Latin American and Florida (U.S.A.) and by analyzing the success or failure of classical and augmentative biological control programs implemented to date in these regions. We also discuss the lack of success of introductions of exotic fruit fly parasitoids in various Latin American countries. We finish by discussing the most pressing needs related to fruit fly biological control (classical, augmentative, and conservation modalities) in areas of the Neotropics where fruit fly populations severely restrict the development of commercial fruit growing. We also address the need for much more intensive research on the bioecology of native fruit fly parasitoids.     

Preliminary inventory of hymenopteran parasitoids associated with fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Northern Ghana

Baseline studies were conducted to determine the parasitoids associated with fruit flies in the northern savanna ecology of Ghana. Fruit fly puparia obtained from incubation of 17 host fruit species were maintained in rearing cages for the emergence of parasitoid wasps. Four species of braconid parasitoids namely, Fopius caudatus (Szépligeti), Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson), Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti) and Diachasmimorpha fullawayi (Silvestri) were recovered. F. caudatus was the most abundant parasitoid (61.0%) reared from most host fruits while D. fullawayi was the least abundant (7.7%). The overall mean parasitism rate was 7.1% with the highest record in Annona senegalensis Pers., Sarcocepholus latifolium S. Bruce and Icacina senegalensis Juss. Ceratitis cosyra and Bactrocera invadens were the fruit fly species most commonly reared that produced F. caudatus, and to a lesser extent, P. cosyrae. The peak occurrence of the parasitoids coincided with the peak of the rains and the maturity period of many of the host fruits. This first inventory of tephritid parasitoids in Ghana provides critical baseline data for biological control efforts in the future.     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

Valuation of gamma irradiation for proficient production of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae & Eucoilidae) in the management of the peach fruit-fly,Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

Recognizing the potential significance of using nuclear techniques in biological control, investigations were conducted on the rearing of parasitoids of the peach fruit-fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to lead to a greater flexibility in the use of irradiated hosts. For improving mass production of the biological control agents, the use of irradiated fruit-fly larvae at the dose of 15 Gy proved useful for enhancing the parasitism and adult emergence of the larval parasitoid, Trybliographa daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae) due to no negative repercussions on parasitoid development. Overall, parasitism by the parasitoid increased with age of the host larvae; however, significantly higher parasitism occurred on 4 d-old irradiated larvae of B. zonata compared to those aged 5 d. The female parasitoids preferred the irradiated larvae, and significantly higher numbers of larvae were parasitized compared with non-irradiated larvae. There was no significant difference in adult parasitoid emergence with respect to the sex of the host. A radiation level of 80 Gy was the best dose for rearing of the pupal parasitoid, Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) owing to broad tolerances in the use of irradiation for the rearing of fruit-fly's parasitoids. Percentage parasitism by D. giffardii varied with host pupal age, and the preference of the female parasitoid was lower on 48 h old host pharate pupae due to optimum size and mass of host. Present findings further revealed that the 24 h old host pupae of B. zonata were relatively more suitable for the maximum parasitism and progeny production of D. giffardii. Parasitisms by D. giffardii and T. daci were significantly higher on B. zonata host when parasitoids were released at a density of 3000 individuals per acre (7500 per hectares) than the other release rates of parasitoids for the management of fruit-flies in mango orchards. The implementation of these findings ought to help improve the mass production of parasitoids and the effectiveness of releases of biocontrol agents for control of B. zonata in mango plantations.     

浙江省不同寄主植物上烟粉虱寄生蜂之调查

为明确浙江省不同地区以及不同寄主植物上的烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci寄生蜂种类,更好地利用寄生蜂对烟粉虱进行生物防治,通过对浙江省8个地区进行田间烟粉虱末期若虫或伪蛹采样,并将其带回实验室内饲养直至寄生蜂成蜂羽化进行形态学鉴定。结果表明,在浙江省8个地区共采集到3 490头烟粉虱寄生蜂,其中蒙氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus mundus Mercet、狄氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus debachi RoseRosen和浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia(GiraultDodd)的数量最多,比例分别达到了53.0%、27.8%和9.9%;在温州发现的寄生蜂种类最多,共有10种;在20种寄主植物种类或品种上共发现10余种烟粉虱寄生蜂,其中17种寄主植物上共有的烟粉虱寄生蜂有蒙氏桨角蚜小蜂、12种寄主植物上共有的是浅黄恩蚜小蜂、10种寄主植物上共有的是狄氏桨角蚜小蜂;表明这3种寄生蜂是浙江省广泛分布的优势种类。     

Sublethal effects of nine insecticides on Drosophila suzukii and its major pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae

Background

Although the pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae is used in conservative and augmentative biocontrol of Drosophila suzukii infestations, current pest management strategies mostly rely on multiple insecticide applications. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the baseline toxicity of nine insecticides on D. suzukii larvae and their multiple sublethal effects (LC₁₀) on immature stages of the pest feeding on contaminated diet and T. drosophilae developing within the intoxicated host.

Results

Chlorpyriphos and azadirachtin showed the lowest and the highest LC₁₀, the values of which were 9.78 × 10¹³ and 1.46 × 10³ times lower than their recommended label field rate, respectively. Among tested insecticides, imidacloprid, malathion and dimethoate were the only treatments that did not affect the juvenile development time of D. suzukii, while spinosad and the organophosphates chlorpyriphos and dimethoate did not influence fly pupal size. No sublethal effects were recorded on T. drosophilae degree of infestation (DI) and juvenile development time. On the contrary, cyazypyr and dimethoate negatively affected the success of parasitism (SP) and the number of progeny of the pupal parasitoid, in association with malathion for the first parameter and spinosad for the fertility. Compared to the untreated control, more female progeny emerged following azadirachtin exposure, while dimethoate caused the opposite effect. Imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin and spinetoram decreased hind tibia length of emerged parasitoids.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights on the (eco)toxicological profile of nine insecticides and new information needed to support the deployment of T. drosophilae in the field within the sustainable management techniques against D. suzukii. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Occurrence of two localMegastigmus species parasitic on the eucalyptus gall waspLeptocybe invasa in Israel and Turkey

Two localMegastigmus species were found to be parasitoids on the invasive Eucalyptus gall waspLeptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle in Turkey and Israel.Megastigmus sp, from Israel is a larval and pupal parasitoid ofL. Invasa. Both species are biparental. Features showing morphological differences between them are presented. The biology, distribution and potential efficiency as biological control agents are discussed.     

Mating disruption for the control of Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) may contribute to increased effectiveness of natural enemies

BACKGROUND: New directives on sustainable use of pesticides have encouraged research on efficient alternative pest control methods. In the case of the California red scale (CRS), Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), this imperative, along with the many difficulties in controlling this pest, have led to the investigation of new approaches. Previously developed mating disruption (MD) dispensers, together with the augmentative releases of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach, are here considered as a combined strategy for use against A. aurantii. RESULTS: Efficacy of MD was demonstrated by a mean reduction of 80% in CRS male catches and a mean fruit damage reduction of 83% compared with the control. A delay in the development of A. aurantii instars was observed in the MD plot. This delay increased the period of exposure of the susceptible instars to natural enemies, which resulted in higher predation and parasitism levels in the MD plot. Under laboratory conditions, A. melinus mating behaviour and effects on A. aurantii were not significantly altered in a CRS-pheromone-saturated environment. CONCLUSION: Mating disruption pheromone did not affect the behaviour or level of parasitism by A. melinus or the incidence of other generalist predators. Therefore, A. aurantii pheromone appears to be compatible with augmentative releases and biological control, making its use a good strategy for CRS management. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Distribution and tephritid hosts (Diptera) of braconid parasitoids (hymenoptera) in Brazil

Tephritid parasitoids reared from 26 different host fruit species showed remarkably little diversity across 21 Brazilian counties. The majority of the parasitoids (81.4%) belonged to the braconid subfamily Opiinae, with Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) the most commonly encountered species. Four other opiines, namely D. brasiliensis (Szépligeti), Opius bellus Gahan, Optus sp. and Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae (Viereck) were also reared, but in much smaller numbers. Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), an alysiine braconid parasitoid of tephritids, accounted for an additional 18–6% of the individuals reared from tephritids. The hosts and distribution patterns of the braconid parasitoids of Brazilian fruit‐infesting Tephritidae are summarized.     

桔小实蝇的寄生蜂及其应用

就桔小实蝇寄生蜂种类、生物学特性、寄主选择行为、农药对寄生蜂的影响及寄生蜂在生物防治中的应用等方面的研究进展进行了较全面的综述.     

Egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armyworm<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera exigua</Emphasis> on maize in Turkey

The present study was conducted to determine egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armywormSpodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is an important but sporadic pest in Turkey. High beet armyworm population levels were recently observed in fields of first and second crop maize in the southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey. The parasitoid species complex and its impact on the pest were analyzed in a 4-year study in first and second crop maize. The braconid larval parasitoidsMicroplitis rufiventris Kokujev,M. tuberculifer Wesmael,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Chelonus obscuratus (Herrich Schäffer) (an egg-larval parasitoid),Apanteles ruficrus (Haliday); the ichneumonid larval parasitoidsHyposoter didymator (Thunberg) andSinophorus xanthostomus Gravenhorst; and the egg parasitoidTrichogramma evanescens (Westwood) were found to be the natural enemies attacking the pest. Among the parasitoid species the solitary endoparasitoidH. didymator was the most prevalent species, being reared from 40.5% of the parasitized larvae found. Higher parasitism rates were recorded on first crop than on second crop maize in every year. Possible reasons for this difference in larval parasitism between two growing seasons include lower population of the pest and reduced insecticide applications in first crop maize fields which permitted higher parasitism. However, parasitoid activity was insufficient to counterbalance the population growth of the pest on subsequent second crop maize.     

Introduction of exotic parasitic wasps for the control of Liriomyza trifolii (Dipt., Agromyzidae) in Senegal

Abstract

Liriomyza trifolii Burgess had first been reported from Senegal in 1980. Field surveys in 1982 revealed its presence in all vegetable growing areas of the country, heaviest damage being registered in the Cap Vert. Five indigenous eulophids (larval parasitoids) plus five other rare parasitoids, frequently parasitized over 90% of the flies. These rates were higher in insecticide free fields, and very much above the 30–40% reported for 1981. The most important parasitoids were Hemiptarsensus semialbiclava (Girault), which dominated in the second half of the dry season, and two Chrysonotomyia spp., which were more abundant in the rainy season. Surveys for exotic parasitoids indicated Diaulinopsis callichroma Crawford from Trinidad to be a promising species for introduction in the New World. This parasitoid, together with eight other chalcidoids (mostly larval parasitoids) and two braconids (larval‐pupal parasitoids), were collected in the field or received from established insectary cultures. They were studied and shipped for rearing and release in Senegal. Nine species were released at the end of 1982 and in 1983. Many were recovered shortly after release, but only Opius dissitus Muesebeck was recovered in later samples and became relatively abundant.     

Female preference did not evolve under laboratory conditions in the solanaceous fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons

Sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used to eradicate target pest species. Its effectiveness depends on the ability of released sterile males to mate with wild females. In pest species with a female choice mating system, there is potential for female preference to evolve in the wild population in view of the resulting zero-fitness in females that mate with sterile males. The evolution of female preference against sterile males can, therefore, reduce the efficiency of the SIT as the likelihood decreases that sterile males will mate with wild females. We examined this experimentally by using the solanaceous fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons, a serious pest of solanaceous crops, by allowing female preference in mass-reared fruit flies to select between fertile and sterile males over 12 generations. However, this did not generate a rapid evolutionary response. Also the remating rate of females did not increase, even when the first mating partner was a sterile male. We discuss the implication of the results for the eradication project by the SIT program.     

两种蚜小蜂对烟粉虱MED隐种的田间笼罩控效评价

为明确烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci MED隐种优势寄生蜂海氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus hayati ZolnerowichRose与浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia GiraultDodd对其控制效果的影响,在棉田尼龙纱网笼罩中释放烟粉虱之后,再分别单独释放海氏桨角蚜小蜂、浅黄恩蚜小蜂以及二者以不同比例组合(1∶1、1∶3、3∶1)释放,定期调查统计2种蚜小蜂对烟粉虱的寄生量和烟粉虱的种群动态。结果表明,相对于不放蜂对照,自首次放蜂后40 d开始,所有放蜂处理均能显著降低烟粉虱若虫种群密度,每100 cm~2叶片上均少于1.00头,但各处理间的烟粉虱种群密度无显著差异;海氏桨角蚜小蜂和浅黄恩蚜小蜂以3∶1比例组合释放的处理中对烟粉虱的寄生量最高,每100 cm~2棉花叶片上能达到4.25头。表明在棉田中对烟粉虱进行生物防治时,以初级寄生蜂海氏桨角蚜小蜂与复寄生蜂浅黄恩蚜小蜂为3∶1的比例释放,可以到达较好的控制效果。     

Note:Capparimyia savastani (Martelli, 1911): A new record of tephritidae of economic significance for Spain

During a trial in Majorca (Balearic Islands) conducted in 2007 for the detection of parasitoids of the olive flyBactrocera oleae by using yellow sticky traps, a single female of the tephritidaeCapparimyia savastani (Martelli, 1911) was captured. This species had never been recorded previously either in the Balearics or mainland Spain. The larvae of this species feed on the edible flower buds of the common caper (Capparis sp.), thus being a potential pest of this crop. There has not been any previous study of the response of this diptera to the traps and attractants most commonly used in the area for the monitoring of other tephritidae of economic importance, such asB. oleae and the Mediterranean fruit flyCeratitis capitata. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 30, 2008.     

Parasitoids Associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mussidia</Emphasis> spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Kenya

The pyralid Mussidia nigrivenella, a pest of cotton, maize and Phaseolus bean in West Africa, has never been reported as a crop pest in East and Southern Africa, although reportedly it exists in the wild. It is hypothesized that the difference in pest status of M. nigrivenella between western and eastern Africa was either due to differences in natural enemy compositions or that there exist several populations and/or species of Mussidia, which vary in their host plant range. Thus, a catalogue of parasitoids of Mussidia spp. was established through surveys in mid-altitude and coastal Kenya, between 2006 and 2007. Mussidia spp. eggs, larvae and pupae were collected from fruits of plants known to host Mussidia spp. and were examined for parasitoid-related mortality. The trichogrammatid Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr. lutea was obtained from eggs of Mussidia fiorii. A braconid egg-larval parasitoid, Phanerotoma sp., was reared from the larvae of unknown species of Mussidia (which we are referring to as Mussidia “madagascariensis”, Mussidia “quanzensis”) and M. fiorii, while the bethylid Goniozus sp. and the braconid Apanteles sp. were obtained from Mussidia nr. nigrivenella. Moreover, the ichneumonid larval parasitoid Syzeuctus sp. was obtained from M. fiorii, while the tachinid Leskia sp. was obtained from Mussidia “madagascariensis”. Overall, mortality caused by parasitoids was negligible; hence they were not considered key mortality factors in the population dynamics of the Mussidia spp. in Kenya.     

椰心叶甲人工饲料的研制及应用效果评价

为了获得入侵害虫椰心叶甲Brontispa longissima(Gestro)的人工饲料,在分析其天然寄主叶片水分和营养成分基础上,借鉴其它鞘翅目昆虫人工饲料配方,进行椰心叶甲人工饲料的配制和筛选,并评价人工饲料饲养的椰心叶甲对其寄生蜂椰甲截脉姬小蜂Asecodes hispinarum和椰心叶甲啮小蜂Tetrastichus brontispae的适合性。人工饲料配方的成分:蔗糖4%、椰子粉2%、大豆粉2%、椰树叶粉10%、酵母2%、维生素E 0.3%、抗坏血酸0.2%、对羟基苯甲酸甲酯0.2%、琼脂4%、链霉素0.03%和水75%。用所配制的人工饲料饲养椰心叶甲初孵幼虫,其蛹成活率可达36%,蛹羽化率与对照无显著差异,均在90%以上;雌成虫占52.4%,与对照无显著差异。表明人工饲料饲养所得的椰心叶甲可用于其幼虫寄生蜂椰甲截脉姬小蜂和蛹寄生蜂椰心叶甲啮小蜂的扩繁。     

Feeding and attraction of non-target flies to spinosad-based fruit fly bait

A spinosad-based fruit fly bait, GF-120, has recently become a primary tool for area-wide suppression or eradication of pest tephritid fruit flies. The present study assessed the attraction and feeding of five non-target fly species to GF-120 in Hawaii. These non-target flies include three beneficial tephritid species [Eutreta xanthochaeta (Aldrich), Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Loew), Ensina sonchi (L.)] introduced for weed biological control, an endemic Hawaiian tephritid [Trupanea dubautiae (Bryan)] (all Diptera: Tephritidae) and the cosmopolitan Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae). All five non-target fly species were susceptible to GF-120, as was the target pest Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Feeding on, or even brief tasting of, GF-120 killed all fly species within 2 h. When individual flies were provided with a choice of GF-120 or honey solution, there was no difference in the frequency of first food encounter by E. xanthochaeta, D. melanogaster or C. capitata. The other three non-target species approached honey more often than GF-120 in their first food encounter. Feeding times on GF-120 and honey were not significantly different for D. melanogaster and C. capitata, while the other four non-target species fed longer on honey than on GF-120. There was no significant difference in feeding time on honey versus GF-120 between males and females of each species. These results suggest that area-wide treatment using GF-120 for the purpose of eradication of pest fruit flies has potential negative impacts on these and other non-target fly species in Hawaii.     

Effect of different hosts onThaumetopoea pityocampa populations in northeast Portugal

A study was carried out at the Natural Park of Montesinho, NE Portugal, in order to evaluate the effect of different pine species (Pinus pinaster Ait.,P. nigra Arn. andP. sylvestris L.) onThaumetopoea pityocampa populations. The structure of the egg batches, the impact of the egg parasitoids on natural mortality of the pest and the species of parasitoids present, as well as their emergence dynamics, were analyzed. The length of the egg batches varied among pine species with the longest ones onP. nigra. The mean number of eggs per batch differed betweenP. sylvestris and the two other hosts studied, with fewer eggs per batch on the first. No differences were found in the size of eggs among pine species. The egg mortality varied between 25.8% and 33.0%, with no differences among hosts. Parasitism was the main cause of death.Baryscapus servadeii (Mercet.) was the most abundant parasitoid species, followed byOoencyrtus pityocampae (Dom.) andTrichogramma embryophagum Htg.B. servadeii dominated in the egg batches collected fromP. pinaster andP. nigra, whereasO. pityocampae was most frequent onP. sylvestris. The emergence ofB. servadeii started in the middle of March and continued until August, with the emergence peak at the end of May. The emergence ofO. pityocampae started at the end of April and continued throughout September, with maximum values in June. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 20, 2006.     

Evaluating side effects of newer insecticides on the vine mealybug parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anagyrus</Emphasis> sp. near <Emphasis Type="Italic">pseudococci</Emphasis>, with implications for integrated pest management in vineyards

Control of the invasive vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) can be achieved through integration of different management strategies such as the application of chemical treatments and biological control. However, compatibility between these control methods is considered crucial when adopting integrated pest management (IPM) programs against this insect pest. The recently used insecticides Prev-Am®, a contact biopesticide, and spirotetramat, a systemic tetramic acid insecticide, were assessed in laboratory conditions for their side effects on the vine mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus sp. near pseudococci with reference to chlorpyriphos-methyl, an organophosphate insecticide conventionally used for mealybug control in vineyards. Regarding contact toxicity, chlorpyriphos-methyl caused 100% parasitoid mortality 24 h after treatment, but parasitoid mortality from Prev-Am® or spirotetramat was almost absent. Neither the total parasitoid offspring/female nor the sex ratio of the progeny was negatively affected by Prev-Am® or spirotetramat relative to the untreated control. According to the IOBC classification for laboratory trials, both Prev-Am® and spirotetramat were rated harmless (IOBC category 1), whereas chlorpyriphos-methyl was categorized as harmful (IOBC category 4) to A. sp. near pseudococci. None of the insecticides adversely affected the development of the parasitoid pupal stage inside mealybug mummies or the survival of the emerged parasitoids. The practical implications of the results for implementing mealybug IPM programs in vineyards are emphasized and discussed.