First record of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Primer registro de Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) atacando Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Diptera: Tephritidae)

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

First record of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Primer registro de Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) atacando Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Alfredo Jiménez-Pérez^I; Patricia Villa-Ayala; Víctor López-Martínez^II

Lab. Ecología Química, Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos (IPN), Carretera Yautepec-Jojutla km 8.5 Col. San Isidro, C. postal 62731, Yautepec, Morelos, México

^IIFacultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Univ. Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa C. postal 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

A new host record is reported for the braconid wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitizing papaya fruit fly larvae Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Diptera: Tephritidae) in México.

Key words: Braconid parasitoid, tephritid fruitfly papaya

RESUMEN

Se registra por primera vez a Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) parasitando a larvas de la mosca de la papaya, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker en México.

Palabras clave: Bracónido parasitoide, mosca de la fruta, papaya

Papaya fruits (Carica papaya L. var. Hawaiian solo) naturally infested with Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker 1860 were obtained from an papaya orchard located at the CEPROBI experimental field in Morelos, México [for details on weather, vegetation and localization see Aluja et al. (1997)]. This particular orchard was surrounded by Ficus spp., Citrus spp., Mangifera indica L. and Psidium guava L. trees. In addition, trees of a T. curvicauda alternative host, Jacaratia mexicana A. DC. (Castrejón unpublished) were distributed within the CEPROBI area.

Over a four months period (from September to December, 2004) more than 1200 T. curvicauda larvae were collected and transported to the CEPROBI Chemical Ecology Laboratory within the CEPROBI experimental field. Fruits were dissected at the lab with a knife and mature larvae were placed in a circular plastic container (20 cm high x 20 diameter) floored with a 10 cm layer of sterilized soil. Containers were covered with a fine mesh and located inside an emergence cage covered by a second fine mesh to eliminate contamination risk. Containers were watered as needed.

Between the 14^th and 16^th December, 2004 four parasitoid females emerged within the fruitflies' emergence cages. These were identified as Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) using the Wharton and Marsh (1978) keys and the identification was confirmed through comparison with previously identified specimens deposited at the Centro de Entomología y Acarología, Montecillo (CEAM) insect collection located at Montecillos, Texcoco, Estado de México, México.

D. longicaudata is a common, Mexican-exotic, opine braconid, larval-prepupal koinobiont parasitoid that attacks a wide range of Anastrepha spp. and Ceratitis capitata (Weid.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Latin America (Aluja et al. 1990, López et al. 1999, Wharton et al. 1981) fruitflies. Originally from the Indo-Philippine region, it has been introduced in many countries as a biological control agent with variable results. It was introduced in Mexico in the 1950´s and it is an important tool in native fruitflies IPM programs (Jiménez-Jiménez 1956, Ovruski et al. 2000).

When D. longicaudata females were caged with papaya infested with T. curvicauda larvae, they explored the fruit surface with their legs and antennas and attempted oviposition. In addition, apparent agonistic behavior between females was also displayed. Females stood face to face and moved their antennas and legs.

For many years, we have worked with T. curvicauda at the CEPROBI, and until now, never found it to be attacked by this parasitoid. One possible explanation was a change in field-management policies. In the past, we planted C. papaya var. cera chichona which is a larger fruit variety. In contrast, the parasitoids were collected from larvae obtained from a small fruit variety (Hawaiian Solo). According to López et al. (1999), small fruit are more likely to be successfully parasitized than large ones. Larvae can be closer to the surface of smaller fruit and easier reach of the parasitoid's ovipositor.

Until now, the braconids Doryctobracon toxotrypanae (Muesebeck) (Wharton et al. 1981, Boscán & Godoy 1999) and Opius hirtus (Wharton) were the only parasitoids associated with T. curvicauda. This report adds a new species to the T. curvicauda natural parasitoid list and a new host for D. longicaudata, however, this parasitism on T. curvicauda was possibly casual due to the low parasitism level obtained.

Acknowledgments

We thank Robert A. Wharton (Texas A&M University) for his papers about braconids reared from fruitflies and comments about D. longicaudata. To R. Arzuffi for comments on the manuscript and three anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript. This work was supported by PROMEP (103.5/03/1134) and PIFI (2004-18-12) grants to VLM and grant 20060403 from CGEPI, IPN to A. Jiménez-Pérez and P. Villa-Ayala.

Received 27/VII/06. Accepted 30/IX/06.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  09 Aug 2007
• Date of issue
  June 2007

History

• Received
  27 July 2006
• Accepted
  30 Sept 2006