ABSTRACT
Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major barrier to fruit production and exportation. In Brazil, the native parasitoid Aganaspis pelleranoi (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the exotic parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) stand out as biological control agents. Knowledge of the factors that affect interactions among parasitoids, A. fraterculus, and host fruits may enhance the use of these agents in biological control programmes. This study evaluated the chemotaxis and parasitism of A. pelleranoi and D. longicaudata females reared on A. fraterculus larvae and kept on an artificial diet, red guava (Psidium guajava) or apple (Malus domestica). Females of both parasitoid species that emerged from larvae raised on artificial diet, guava or apple, were tested to Y olfactometer choice tests. In the parasitism tests, both parasitoid species were made to choose between A. fraterculus larvae brushed with water, apple pulp or guava pulp. D. longicaudata females from artificial diet (control) did not distinguish between fruit odours; however, females of D. longicaudata from larvae kept in apple or guava directed to the odours of their original fruit. The greatest parasitism for D. longicaudata occurred in the units that contained the pulp in which the larvae grew. A. pelleranoi from artificial diet preferred guava odours, including the females kept in apple. Similar results were observed in the parasitism bioassays. Our results found that A. fraterculus larval feeding influenced search behaviour and parasitism of D. longicaudata, whereas A. pelleranoi rearing experience did not affect its host choices.
Subject(s)
Chemotaxis , Tephritidae/physiology , Tephritidae/parasitology , Wasps/physiology , Animals , Biological Control Agents , Diet , Female , Fruit , Host-Parasite Interactions , Larva/physiology , Malus , Psidium , Tephritidae/growth & developmentABSTRACT
O percevejo-do-colmo, Tibraca limbativentris Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), é uma importante praga da cultura do arroz no Brasil. O presente trabalho objetivou registrar a ocorrência de parasitoides de ovos de T. limbativentris em lavoura de arroz irrigado, situada no município de Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. A área (603 m2 ) foi vistoriada semanalmente, de 21/01/2010 a 03/03/2010, coletando-se posturas do percevejo-do-colmo. Constatou-se somente a ocorrência de Telenomus podisi (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) como parasitoide de ovos, sendo o índice de parasitismo de 75%. Este é o primeiro registro de T. podisi em ovos do percevejodo-colmo em lavouras de arroz no Rio Grande do Sul.
The rice stem stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an important pest of rice in Brazil. This study aimed to register egg parasitoids of T. limbativentris in irrigated rice crop in Eldorado do Sul (state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). The area (603 m2 ) was inspected weekly from 01/21/2010 to 03/03/2010 and rice stem stink bug eggs were collected. It was observed only the occurrence of Telenomus podisi (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) as egg parasitoid and the parasitism rate was 75%. This is the first record of T. podisi in rice stem stink bug eggs collected in rice fields in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.