Trichopria anastrephae as a Biological Control Agent of Drosophila suzukii in Strawberries.

In South America, the resident pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Costa Lima (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) is a potential biological control agent of the pest Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae). In the present study, we (1) examined the behavior of T. anastrephae towards different host (D. suzukii) and host-substrate (strawberry) cues in choice and non-choice bioassays in laboratory, and (2) examined the density-dependent parasitism of T. anastrephae in D. suzukii-infested strawberries in a greenhouse. When given a choice, female parasitoids walked longer over chambers with fruits infested with eggs, larvae, or pupae of D. suzukii, when compared to healthy uninfested strawberries, and over overripe fruits when compared to unripe or ripe fruits. In the greenhouse assay, we observed an increase in parasitism and a decrease in the number of D. suzukii emerging per fruit with an increase in the number of parasitoids released. Our results allow a better understanding of the behavior and parasitism of T. anastrephae in D. suzukii-infested strawberries and provide useful data for potential biological control programs using this parasitoid.

Reproductive Biology of Trichopria anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), a Biological Control Agent of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Hymenopteran parasitoids, like any other insect, employ strategies to ensure their reproduction. Understanding these strategies is important for ecological purposes, but also to improve mass rearing of biological control agents. Here, we describe mating strategies used by the pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), a potential biocontrol agent, that has been considered for augmentative releases for management of the invasive pest species Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). We studied the emergence pattern of males and females of T. anastrephae and the effects of parental ae on offspring number and sex ratio. Polygamy was also studied and its effects on parasitism and offspring production were described. Adults from this species emerge in the first hours of photophase, and males emerge before females, demonstrating that T. anastrephae is a protandrous species. Parasitoid age when first mated influences the parasitism and sex ratio. Younger females result in a higher number of offspring (8.16 parasitoids/day), while older males result in a more female-biased sex ratio of offspring (64% females). Both males and females are polygamic, and the order in which a female is mated by the male affects parasitism, viability of parasitized pupae, and sex ratio of offspring, with the first female performing the highest parasitism and sex ratio (63.83 and 61% of females, respectively), but the lowest viability (92.92%). Females that are allowed to mate multiple times generate lower numbers of offspring (113.05 parasitoids) when compared to virgin or single-mated females (135.20 and 130.70 parasitoids, respectively), but the highest sex ratio (49% of females). Data present in this study and how it can be used to improve parasitoid rearing and field releases of T. anastrephae, in biological control programs for D. suzukii are discussed.