Psyttalia cf. concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of olive fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in California

The larval parasitoid, Psyttalia cf. concolor (Szépligeti), reared on Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann), by the USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Guatemala City, Guatemala, was imported into California for biological control of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), in olives, Olea europaea L. Mean percentage parasitism of olive fruit fly third instars infesting fruit in field cages ranged from 7.0 in Grapevine to 59.7 in Santa Barbara and in free releases ranged from 0 in Grapevine to 10.6 in Santa Barbara after 4- to 6-d exposures. In the laboratory, more parasitoids developed to adults in olive fruit fly larvae that were 11-13 d old than in larvae 8-10 d old. Adult parasitoids lived significantly longer when provided with water than adults without water in environmental chambers at 5 degrees C, 85% RH; 15 degrees C, 65% RH; 25 degrees C, 25% RH; and 35 degrees C, 25% RH. Adult parasitoids lived for 48 d with honey for food and water and 32 d with food and sugar solution at 15 degrees C and 65% RH. Survival of adult parasitoids without food and water in greenhouse tests was approximately 4 d in a simulated coastal climate and 1 d in a simulated inland valley climate and was significantly increased by providing food and water. The parasitoid did not develop in the beneficial seedhead fly, Chaetorellia succinea (Costa), in yellow star thistle. The rate of parasitism of walnut husk fly, Rhagoletis completa Cresson, larvae in green walnut husks was 28.4% in laboratory no-choice tests. In choice tests, the rate of parasitism of walnut husk fly versus olive fruit fly larvae in olives was 11.5 and 24.2%, respectively.     

Psyttalia ponerophaga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a potential biological control agent of olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in California

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is a newly invasive, significant threat to California's olive industry. As part of a classical biological control programme, Psyttalia ponerophaga (Silvestri) was imported to California from Pakistan and evaluated in quarantine. Biological parameters that would improve rearing and field-release protocols and permit comparisons to other olive fruit fly biological control agents were measured. Potential barriers to the successful establishment of P. ponerophaga, including the geographic origins of parasitoid and pest populations and constraints imposed by fruit size, were also evaluated as part of this investigation. Under insectary conditions, all larval stages except neonates were acceptable hosts. Provided a choice of host ages, the parasitoids' host-searching and oviposition preferences were a positive function of host age, with most offspring reared from hosts attacked as third instars. Immature developmental time was a negative function of tested temperatures, ranging from 25.5 to 12.4 days at 22 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Evaluation of adult longevity, at constant temperatures ranging from 15 to 34 degrees C, showed that P. ponerophaga had a broad tolerance of temperature, living from 3 to 34 days at 34 and 15 degrees C, respectively. Lifetime fecundity was 18.7 +/- 2.8 adult offspring per female, with most eggs deposited within 12 days after adult eclosion. Olive size affected parasitoid performance, with lower parasitism levels on hosts feeding in larger olives. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to field manipulation and selection of parasitoid species for olive fruit fly biological control in California and worldwide.     

Toxicity of spinosad in protein bait to three economically important tephritid fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The feeding toxicity of the natural insecticide spinosad in Provesta protein bait was evaluated for three economically important fruit fly species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett; and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel. Both females and males were evaluated. Spinosad was remarkably similar in toxicity to all three fruit fly species. Male C. capitata (24 h LC50 values and 95% fiducial limits = 2.8 [2.60-3.0] mg/liter spinosad) were significantly, although only slightly more susceptible to spinosadthan females (4.2 [3.8-4.6] mg/liter). Male (5.5 [4.7-6.6] mg/liter) andfemale (4.3 [3.7-4.9] mg/liter) B. cucurbitae were equally susceptible to spinosad. Female (3.3 [3.1-3.6] mg/liter) and male (3.1 [2.9-3.3] mg/liter) B. dorsalis also were equally susceptible to spinosad. Provesta bait containing spinosad also was evaluated against two parasitoids of tephritid fruit flies, Fopius arisanus (Sonan) and Pysttalia fletcheri (Silvestri). These parasitoids did not feed on the bait, so a contact toxicity test was conducted. Significant amounts of mortality were found only after exposure of parasitoids to spinosad-coated glass vials with concentrations > or =500 mg/liter spinosad. Parasitoids were less susceptible than fruit flies to such a degree that use of spinosad in bait spray should be compatible with these parasitoid species. Because the fruit flies tested in this study were so susceptible to spinosad, this product seems to be promising as a bait spray additive and a replacement for malathion for control of these species.     

Hymenopteran parasitoids of diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae) in northern Thailand

Larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae), cause severe economic damage to cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata (Brassicaceae) and related vegetables in Thailand. Overuse of broad-spectrum insecticides for diamondback moth control is a serious problem and has obscured the contributions of indigenous parasitoids. Our objectives were to identify indigenous diamondback moth parasitoids in northern Thailand and to assess their potential for natural control. Six parasitoid species were reared from diamondback moth larvae and pupae collected in 1990 and in 2003-2004. These included the larval parasitoid Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov (Braconidae), a larval-pupal parasitoid Macromalon orientale Kerrich (Ichneumonidae), and pupal parasitoids Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria excarinata Gahan (Chalcididae). Single specimens of Isotima sp. Forster (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria lasus Walker (Chalcididae) also were reared from diamondback moth hosts. C. plutellae was the dominant larval parasitoid and was often reared from host larvae collected from fields sprayed regularly with insecticides; parasitism ranged from 14 to 78%. Average parasitism by M. orientale was only 0.5-6%. Parasitism of host pupae by D. collaris ranged from 9 to 31%, whereas B. excarinata pupal parasitism ranged from 9 to 25%. An integrated pest management (IPM) protocol using simple presence-absence sampling for lepidopterous larvae and the exclusive use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or neem resulted in the highest yields of undamaged cabbage compared with a control or weekly sprays of cypermethrin (local farmer practice). IPM programs focused on conservation of local diamondback moth parasitoids and on greater implementation of biological control will help alleviate growing public concerns regarding the effects of pesticides on vegetable growers and consumers.     

Bioecology of Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) and associated larval parasitoids reared from Hass avocados in Guatemala

A 10-wk study of the avocado seed-feeding moth Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae), was conducted in a commercial 'Hass' avocado (Persea americana Miller [Lauraceae]) orchard in Guatemala. Up to 45% of fruit in the orchard were damaged by larval S. catenifer. Larval-to-adult survivorship for 1,881 S. catenifer larvae in Hass fruit was 37%, and adult sex ratio was 51% female. Four species of larval parasitoid were reared from field-collected S. catenifer larvae. The most common parasitoid reared was a gregarious Apanteles sp., which parasitized 53% of larvae and produced on average eight to nine cocoons per host. Apanteles sp. sex ratio was 47% female and 87% of parasitoids emerged successfully from cocoons. Apanteles sp. longevity was approximately equal to 1.5 d in the absence of food, and when provisioned with honey, parasitoids survived for 5-7 d. The mean number of cocoons produced by Apanteles sp. per host, and larval parasitism rates were not significantly affected by the number of S. catenifer larvae inhabiting seeds. Oviposition studies conducted with S. catenifer in the laboratory indicated that this moth lays significantly more eggs on the branch to which the fruit pedicel is attached than on avocado fruit. When given a choice between Hass and non-Hass avocados, S. catenifer lays up to 2.69 times more eggs on Hass.     

Parasitism on medfly by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in different guava cultivars

The parasitism efficiency of the Braconidae wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), was checked on four guava cultivars (Paluma, Sassaoca, Pedro Sato and Kumagai) infested with larvae of medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Five blocks of eight fruits, each with two fruits of each cultivar, were put inside C. capitata adult cages, during 2h for oviposition, and a week later, when the larvae inside guavas were developed, the fruits were exposed to parasitoids for 24h. The mean fruit weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae, percentage of medfly and parasitoid emergence were evaluated. There was not statistical difference among cultivars to weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae e emergence of medfly. The percentage of parasitism was higher in Pedro Sato cultivar (19.8%) compared with Kumagai cultivar (2.9%), but it was statistically similar to the other cultivars.     

Opiine parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and biological control of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Australia: Past,present and future

Opiine braconids are parasitoids of the immature stages of frugivorous tephritids. The female wasp lays her eggs into the eggs or larvae of the fruit fly host, where the immature wasp develops before emerging as a next-generation adult from the now dead host pupal case. In support of a new generation of Australian fruit fly parasitoid research, this paper comprehensively reviews what is known about the Australian fruit fly infesting opiines. Based on the most recent taxonomic revision 11 fruit fly infesting opiine species are documented to occur in Australia, but we consider as doubtful the record for Diachasmimorpha longicaudata and consider the record for Fopius illusorius to be tentative without further collections. We identify that the systematics and taxonomy of the Australian native fruit fly infesting opiines are in urgent need of further work. The history of fruit fly biological control in Australia is comprehensively reviewed, including the export of native Australian opiines for fruit fly control elsewhere in the world. Australia was actively involved in three major classical biological control programmes against fruit flies from the turn of the 1900s until the mid-1960s. Despite the introduction of 11 opiine species, plus numerous other natural enemies, only Fopius arisanus established in eastern Australia, where in South-east Queensland it can now cause between 30 and 40% mean parasitism. In addition to the exotic F. arisanus, the native species Diachasmimorpha kraussii and Diachasmimorpha tryoni also cause fruit fly parasitism in agriculturally important crops: both species have also been liberated widely outside of Australia for fruit fly control. Other Australian opiines have not been reared from flies infesting commercial crops and appear biologically restricted to the fruits and environs of Australian east-coast rainforests. The biology literature for D. tryoni and D. kraussii is comprehensively reviewed, while for F. arisanus, already reviewed elsewhere, key literature only is covered. Forward looking, we consider the potential for inoculative or inundative releases of opiines in areas where they do not currently occur to be good, while conservation biological control may help to increase the impacts of parasitoids in areas where they are already established.     

A comparative assessment of the response of three fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) to a spinosad-based bait: effect of ammonium acetate, female age, and protein hunger

Ammonia-releasing substances are known to play an important role in fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) attraction to food sources, and this information has been exploited for the development of effective synthetic food-based lures and insecticidal baits. In field studies conducted in Hawaii, we examined the behavioural response of wild female oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)), melon fly (B. cucurbitae (Coquillett)), and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)) to spinosad-based GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait(?) formulated to contain either 0, 1 or 2% ammonium acetate. Use of visually-attractive yellow bait stations for bait application in the field allowed for proper comparisons among bait formulations. Field cage tests were also conducted to investigate, using a comparative behavioural approach, the effects of female age and protein starvation on the subsequent response of F1 generation B. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis to the same three bait formulations that were evaluated in the field. Our field results indicate a significant positive effect of the presence, regardless of amount, of AA in GF-120 for B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae. For C. capitata, there was a significant positive linear relationship between the relative amounts of AA in bait and female response. GF-120 with no AA was significantly more attractive to female C. capitata, but not to female B. dorsalis or B. cucurbitae, than the control treatment. Our field cage results indicate that the effects of varying amounts of AA present in GF-120 can be modulated by the physiological stage of the female flies and that the response of female B. cucurbitae to GF-120 was consistently greater than that of B. dorsalis over the various ages and levels of protein starvation regimes evaluated. Results are discussed in light of their applications for effective fruit fly suppression.     

Quarantine strategies for olive fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae): low-temperature storage, brine, and host relations

A dose-response relationship was not observed in olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), larvae exposed to acetic acid concentrations (0-2.5%) used in commercial brine solutions to cure olives. Immersion in a 1% acetic acid brine solution impeded emergence of the immature stages. A 1-wk exposure of olives infested with olive fruit fly larvae to low-temperature storage as a postharvest treatment at 0-1 degree C resulted in 8% survival of the population, and exposures of 2 through 5 wk further reduced pupal and adult emergence to <1.0%. One- to 2-wk exposures at 2-3 degrees C resulted in a significant decrease in survival from 20 to 3%, respectively, and longer durations of 3-5 wk reduced survival to <1.0%. Mean daily fruit pulp temperatures in olives in the top, middle, and bottom of plastic bins stored at 2-3 degrees C decreased by 5-8 degrees C from the first to the second day. Lowest temperatures were observed in the top, and highest temperatures were observed in the middle layer of fruit, which attained a mean temperature of 3.8 degrees C on day 5. Laboratory choice tests showed that olive fruit fly oviposited at a higher rate in late season Mission olives that were green than in fruit that were in the red blush maturity stage in tests with 1- and 3-4-d exposure periods, and an increase in duration of exposure was related to an increase in the total number of ovipositional sites. Higher percentages of olive fruit fly third instars, pupae, and adults were reared from green fruit than from fruit in the red blush stage after a 1-d exposure to oviposition. Manzanillo olives were more attractive for oviposition by olive fruit fly than Mission olives, and significantly more third instars, pupae, and adults developed in Manzanillo fruit than in Mission fruit in the red blush stage. These differences were related to the better quality and higher flesh content of the Manzanillo versus Mission olives used in the tests.     

Potential for areawide integrated management of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a braconid parasitoid and a novel bait spray

The braconid wasp, Fopius arisanus (Sonan), a biological control agent for Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was studied in coffee, Coffea arabica L. Fopius arisanus, comprised 79.3% of the total parasitoids (7,014) recovered from fruits collected at three small coffee farms. Data from seasonal host/parasitoid studies at a large coffee plantation also suggested that the most effective natural enemy of C. capitata in coffee may now reside in Hawaii. The original parasitoids introduced into Hawaii for C. capitata control (Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), Tetrastichus giffardianus Silvestri, and Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri) are now rare. Abundance of F. arisanus with respect to other parasitoids collected was influenced by elevation (274, 457, 610 m). Fopius arisanus was the dominant parasitoid at all three elevations, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) occurred consistently, and T. giffardianus was abundant only at low elevation. The impacts on C. capitata and F. arisanus populations of bait sprays containing malathion, spinosad, or phloxine B applied to coffee were also evaluated. All three bait sprays suppressed C. capitata populations. Spinosad and phloxine B bait sprays appeared less harmful to the wasp than malathion. Fopius arisanus offers the potential for areawide management of C. capitata that includes biological control and integration with more environmentally safe chemical controls such as spinosad and phloxine B bait sprays.     

Influence of soil temperature and moisture on the infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae) against larvae of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is considered one of the main pests that affect fruit production in the world. This insect spends part of its life cycle in the soil, making it a target for entomopathogenic nematodes. This work aimed at evaluating the influence of soil temperature and moisture on the infectivity of Heterorhabditis sp. RSC01 and Steinernema carpocapsae ALL to third-instars of C. capitata, and to compare the efficiency of these isolates at five different soil temperatures (19, 22, 25, 28, and 31°C) and three levels of relative soil moisture (100, 75, and 50% of field capacity). Ten C. capitata larvae were transferred to plastic jars (12 cm × 6 cm) containing 100 g soil, followed by the application of an aqueous suspension containing 125 infective juveniles (IJ)/cm2. In the control treatment, 3 ml of distilled water was applied. Mortality evaluations were made five days later and were confirmed by observations of the characteristic symptoms and cadaver dissection. The infectivity was directly proportional to temperature increase, with maximum percent mortality of 86.7% and 80.0% for S. carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis sp., respectively, at 31°C. At 25°C, the highest mortality for both species was obtained at 75% of field capacity (96.7% and 26.7% for S. carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis sp., respectively).     

Chemosterilant bait stations coupled with sterile insect technique: an integrated strategy to control the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

During 2008 and 2009, the efficacy of the combination of two Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), control techniques, sterile insect technique (SIT) and a chemosterilant bait station system (Adress), was tested in three crops: citrus (Citrus spp.), stone fruit (Prunus spp.), and persimmon (Diospyros spp.). Two thousand sterile males were released per ha each week in the whole trial area (50,000 ha, SIT area). For 3,600 ha, within the whole trial area, 24 Adress traps per ha were hung (SIT + Adress area). Ten SIT + Adress plots and 10 SIT plots in each of three different fruit crops were arranged to assess Mediterranean fruit fly population densities and fruit damage throughout the trial period. To evaluate the efficacy of each treatment, the male and female populations were each monitored from August 2008 to November 2009, and injured fruit was assessed before harvest. Results showed a significant reduction in the C. capitata population in plots treated with both techniques versus plots treated only with the SIT. Likewise, a corresponding reduction in the percentage of injured fruit was observed. These data indicate the compatibility of these techniques and suggest the possibility of using Adress coupled with SIT to reduce C. capitata populations in locations with high population densities, where SIT alone is not sufficiently effective to suppress fruit fly populations to below damaging levels.     

Development of Aerial Releases of Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid that Attacks the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in the Guatemalan Highlands

A braconid parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), was released from the air into Guatemalan coffee plantations that contained Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann). Parasitoid adults were chilled, placed in paper bags, and dropped from an altitude of 100 m and at an airspeed of ~ 130 km/h. Releases were made at four different densities over a period of two years. At the higher release rates parasitism levels reached as high as 84%. The feasibility of using a more technically sophisticated aerial release technique, the auger sterile-insect release machine utilized in C. capitata sterile-fly aerial eradication projects in California and Florida, was also examined. Chilled D. tryoni either alone or in combination with chilled, sterile C. capitata , were dropped over target areas and the released parasitoids examined for mortality and damage. Samples of released parasitoids were taken and tested for 'flight ability'; i.e. flight response after an opportunity to recover from chilling. There was no evidence of significant mortality due to aerial release, and the flight-ability of insects released at various rates and altitudes did not significantly differ from chilled controls that were not released from an airplane.     

Oviposition deterrents for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) from fly faeces extracts

After oviposition, females of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann deposit a host-marking pheromone on the fruit surface that deters oviposition by conspecifics. Methanolic extracts of fruit fly faeces elicit a similar deterrent effect. The results of laboratory and field experiments using raw methanolic extracts of C. capitata faeces as an oviposition deterrent are reported. Laboratory bioassays revealed a significant positive relationship between concentration of faeces and the inhibition of oviposition responses by C. capitata. Treatment of halves of coffee bushes with methanolic extracts containing 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg faeces ml(-1) resulted in a significant reduction of infestation only at the highest concentration (P=0.03). Treatment of blocks of coffee bushes with an extract of 10 mg faeces ml(-1) resulted in an 84% reduction in infestation by C. capitata in sprayed plants and a 56% reduction in adjacent untreated coffee bushes surrounding treated plots, probably due to the deterrent effect of host-marking pheromone on fly oviposition. We conclude that faeces contain oviposition deterrent substances that effectively reduce fruit infestations by C. capitata, suggesting a clear potential for the use of this infochemical in integrated management programmes targeted at this pest.     

A compound produced by fruigivorous Tephritidae (Diptera) larvae promotes oviposition behavior by the biological control agent Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Tephritid fruit fly parasitoids use fruit-derived chemical cues and the vibrations that result from larval movements to locate hosts sequestered inside fruit. However, compounds produced by the larvae themselves have not been previously described nor their significance to parasitoid foraging determined. We collected the volatiles from four species of tropical and subtropical Tephritidae: Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), representing two subfamilies (Dacinae and Trypetinae). Para-ethylacetophenone, an analog of a known tephritid parasitoid attractant, was a major constituent of all four, and was not associated with larvae of another acalypterate fly, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, or with the calypterate Musca domestica L. It also was present in volatiles from whole, A. suspensa infested fruits of Eugenia uniflora (L.). Para-ethylacetophenone was not necessarily produced as a direct consequence of fruit consumption because it also was detected from larvae that developed in two artificial diets and in spent diets subsequent to larval development. Sensillae on both the antennae and ovipositor of the opiine braconid fruit fly parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) responded to the para-ethylacetophenone in larval volatiles and as a synthetic. Although a potential cue to foraging parasitoids, para-ethylacetophenone showed no long range (>1m) attractiveness to the adult female parasitoid, but did stimulate ovipositor-insertion and oviposition into both a natural (fruit) and an artificial (parafilm) substrate. Thus it may prove useful in colonizing and mass-rearing opine fruit fly parasitoids.     

家蝇蛹和果蝇蛹繁育的蝇蛹金小蜂对果蝇蛹的寄生比较

【目的】蝇蛹金小蜂Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae(Rondani)是杨梅园等果园果蝇类害虫蛹期常见寄生蜂种类,在对果蝇类害虫的生物防治上具有重要价值。本文旨在探讨使用家蝇蝇蛹为替代寄主繁育蝇蛹金小蜂的方法。【方法】探讨分别以家蝇蛹和果蝇蛹繁育的蝇蛹金小蜂对家蝇和果蝇蝇蛹的选择性,并比较了在两种寄主上繁育的蝇蛹金小蜂在大小、寿命、产卵期、后代产量和性比等方面的差异。【结果】结果表明与果蝇蛹相比,家蝇蛹明显较大,在家蝇蛹上发育的蝇蛹金小蜂后代个体也明显较大;家蝇蛹和果蝇蛹发育的寄生蜂雌蜂寿命为(13.4±4.11)和(3.94±2.49)d、产卵期分别为(11.4±4.11)和(3.13±2.42)d、单头雌蜂后代雌蜂数量分别为(34.31±31.83)和(7.88±3.58)头,在家蝇蛹上繁育的寄生蜂明显具有较长的寿命和产卵期、更多的雌雄蜂后代数量;在对家蝇蛹和果蝇蛹的选择上,繁育自家蝇和果蝇的蝇蛹金小蜂雌蜂选择频率的差异不大。【结论】利用家蝇蛹繁殖的蝇蛹金小蜂在寄生果蝇蛹时具有更大优势,在繁殖蝇蛹金小蜂控制杨梅园等果蝇的为害时,可以选择家蝇蛹作为替代寄主。     

Perimeter trapping strategy to reduce Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) damage on different host species in Israel

To evaluate the perimeter trapping strategy as a control method, field tests were conducted in three different host species of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in Israel. Dry traps baited with a three component food-based synthetic attractant that were hung in the peripheral rows of a plum, a pear, and a persimmon orchard, caught female C. capitata (up to 20.1, 1.4, and 4.1 female C. capitata per trap per day, respectively). Fruit damage, estimated at harvest, indicated a negligible percentage for the plum orchard (< 1%), 3% for the persimmon orchard (compared with 9% at an untreated neighboring plot), and no damaged fruit in the pear orchard. Finally, dissections of female C. capitata caught in dry traps on different host plant species indicate that a high percentage (range, 84-100%) contained mature eggs. The attraction of mature females to the dry traps might explain the successful results. Future research, to determine precisely how many traps should be placed and how frequently they should be serviced, is necessary before applying this strategy on a commercial basis.     

Parasitism rates of Muscidifurax raptorellus and Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) after individual and paired releases in New York poultry facilities

Commercially reared parasitoids were released into three high-rise, caged-layer poultry houses; one house received only N. vitripennis Walker, the second house received only M. raptorellus Kogan & Legner, and the third house received an equal ratio of both species. Overall, house fly parasitism by M. raptorellus was never higher than 7% in any house. Most parasitism in the M. raptorellus release house was attributed to N. vitripennis. Parasitism of house fly pupae by M. raptorellus did not significantly increase during or after the 6-wk release period in the house that received both parasitoids. However, a depression in total parasitism was not detected when releases of the two species were made in this house.     

Parasitoids from Azores (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae,Pteromalidae, Braconidae): potential use in integrated pest management against Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Two hymenopterous parasitoids, Halticoptera patellana and Toxeumorpha nigricola, were recovered from Mediterranean fruit fly pupae on São Miguel Island, Azores. Both are new records for the Azores, and as Medfly parasitoids. Field-collected Tachinaephagus zealandicus was maintained on Medfly for 10 generations, but if it has potential as a biocontrol agent remains an open question.     

Survival and development of different life stages of three Ceratitis spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) reared at five constant temperatures

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are the most damaging pests on fruit crops on Réunion Island, near Madagascar. Survival and development of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the Natal fruit fly, C. rosa Karsch and the Mascarenes fruit fly, C. catoirii Guérin-Mèneville were compared at five constant temperatures spanning 15 to 35 degrees C. Durations of the immature stages of C. capitata, C. rosa and C. catoirii ranged from 14.5-63.8, 18.8-65.7 and 16.8-65.8 days, respectively, at 30-15 degrees C. The lower developmental threshold and thermal constant were calculated using the temperature summation model. The thermal constant for total development of the immature stages of C. capitata, C. rosa and C. catoirii were 260, 405 and 356 DD, respectively. Species differed mainly during the larval stages and ovarian maturation period, with smaller differences in the egg stage. Ceratitis rosa appeared to be better adapted to low temperatures than the two other species as it showed a lower larval developmental threshold of 3.1 degrees C compared to 10.2 degrees C for C. capitata and 8.9 degrees C for C. catoirii. Overall, C. catoirii had a low survival rate within the range of temperatures studied. The different responses of the three Ceratitis species to various temperatures explain to some extent their distribution on the island. The results obtained will be used for optimizing laboratory rearing procedures and for constructing computer simulation models to predict fruit fly population dynamics.