Biology of Doryctobracon brasiliensis at different temperatures: development of life table and determining thermal requirements |
| |
| Authors: | S Poncio A Medeiros Nunes R Silva Gonçalves H Lisboa R Manica‐Berto M Silveira Garcia D E Nava |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Fitossanidade, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil;2. Programa de Pós‐Gradua??o em Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil;3. Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas, RS, Brazil |
| |
| Abstract: | Doryctobracon brasiliensis (Szépligeti) is a parasitoid larval–pupal of fruit flies and has great potential to be used in biological control programmes as it feeds on other Anastrepha species in addition to Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann). This study investigated the biology of D. brasiliensis at different temperatures to design a life fertility table and determine thermal requirements. The parasitoids were multiplied in larvae of A. fraterculus in air‐conditioned chambers at 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 30°C, 70 ± 20% RH and photophase of 12 h. We determined the number of offspring, sex ratio, longevity of males and females and duration of egg–adult period. The temperature range 18–22°C ensures higher fecundity and at 20°C, and the average number of offspring per female was 152.77 parasitoids. The sex ratio of offspring produced was reduced with increasing temperatures. Longevity of males and females of D. brasiliensis was reduced by increasing temperatures. At 15, 28 and 30°C, there was no development of immature stages. For the temperature range 18–25°C, the duration of egg–adult period of D. brasiliensis was inversely proportional to temperature. At 20 and 22°C, we observed the highest values of net reproduction rate (Ro) and finite reason of increase (λ), meaning that at the estimated optimum temperature (21°C), the population of D. brasiliensis increased 47 times each generation. The lower temperature threshold for development was 10.01°C and the thermal constant (K) 303.21 degree/days. This information confirms that D. brasiliensis is better suited to temperate environments, which implies a significant potential for the use of D. brasiliensis in the control of A. fraterculus, because most areas occupied by this pest are in temperate regions. In addition, D. brasiliensis is useful in mass rearing systems in laboratory. |
| |
| Keywords: |
Anastrepha fraterculus
biological control braconidae fruit production native parasitoids |
|
|
