Parasitoids of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) collected in Itumbiara, Goias, Brazil

Abstracts

Foram determinadas as espécies de parasitóides associadas com Chrysomya megacephala, coletados com isca de rins de bovino, em Itumbiara, Estado de Goiás. As pupas foram obtidas pelo método de flutuação, individualizadas em cápsulas de gelatina e mantidas até a emergência das moscas e/ou dos parasitóides. A prevalência total de parasitismo foi de 18,6%. Brachymeria podagrica, Nasonia vitripennis e Pachycrepoideus vindemiae apresentaram uma freqüência de 8,6%, 8,6% e 1,4%, respectivamente. Relata-se a primeira ocorrência de Brachymeria podagrica em pupas de Chrysomya megacephala.

Dípteros; Ecologia de vetores; Insetos vetores

BRIEF COMUNICATIONS

Parasitoids of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) collected in Itumbiara, Goias, Brazil

Carlos H Marchiori

Instituto Luterano de Ensino Superior de Itumbiara da Universidade Luterana do Brasil. Itumbiara, GO, Brasil

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

This study determined the species of parasitoids associated with Chrysomya megacephala, collected on bovine kidney baits, in Itumbiara, State of Goias, Brazil. The pupae were obtained by flotation. They were individually placed in gelatin capsules until the emergence of the adult flies or their parasitoids. The overall prevalence of parasitism was 18.6%. Brachymeria podagrica, Nasonia vitripennis and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae presented frequencies of 8.6%, 8.6% and 1.4%, respectively. This work reports for the first time the occurrence of Brachymeria podagrica in pupae of Chrysomya megacephala.

Keywords: Diptera. Ecology, vectors. Insect vectors.

Pieces of bovine kidney served as the bait for the flies and were placed inside the cans, on a layer of earth. Five traps were utilized, and these were hung from eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus sp.) at a height of 1 meter off the ground and a separation of 2 meters from each other, at a distance of 50 meters from domestic garbage. The adult individuals collected were taken to the laboratory, sacrificed using ethyl ether and preserved in 70% alcohol for later identification.

To obtain the parasitoids, the contents of the traps were placed in plastic receptacles containing a sand layer that served as a substrate for the pupation of the larvae. Fifteen days after placing in the field, the sand was sieved to extract the pupae. These pupae were then placed individually in gelatin capsules (number =00), to obtain the adult flies and/or parasitoids. The percentage prevalence of parasitism was calculated as the number of pupae containing parasites divided by the total number of pupae collected, multiplied by 100.

During the period from March to October 2002, 122 parasite specimens were collected from 70 pupae of Chrysomya megacephala (Table 1). The total prevalence of parasitism was 18.6%. This high prevalence of parasitism was probably due to the presence of gregarious parasitoids. The parasitoids collected belonged to three species: Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), accounting for 8.6%, 8.6% and 1.4%, respectively, within the total prevalence (Table 1).

The specimens of Nasonia vitripennis and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae were identified in accordance with Legner et al⁵ (1976) and Brachymeria podagrica in accordance with Burks² (1960). The reference material was stored in the Biology Department of Instituto Luterano de Ensino Superior, Itumbiara, GO.

The parasitoid that was collected the most was Nasonia vitripennis, because in addition to behaving as a gregarious parasitoid, it was also the species that attacked the greatest number of pupae of C. megacephala. This was probably due to variations in the quality and availability of resources and the host-seeking capacity of this parasitoid or the host density. This species attacks several species of Diptera, particularly those in the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae and Tachinidae.⁴

Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius) occurs practically worldwide, in association with synanthropic and other Diptera.²Pachycrepoideus vindemiae is considered to be a solitary parasitoid of numerous Diptera in the families Anthomyiidae, Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae and Tephritidae, among others. The geographical distribution of this species extends beyond South America to North America and Africa.⁴

Since the control of flies by means of insecticides may lead to the selection of resistant populations, there is a need for new control methodologies.

REFERÊNCIAS

Received on 6/1/2003

Reviewed on 21/8/2003

Approved on 14/10/2003

• 1. Amorim JA, Ribeiro OB. Distinction among the puparia of three blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) frequently found on unburied corpses. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2001;96:1-4.
• 2. Burks BD. A revision of the genus Brachymeria Westwood in America North of Mexico (Hymenoptera; Chalcididae). Trans Am Entomol Soc 1960;86:225-41.
• 3. Gauld ID, Bolton B. The Hymenoptera Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1988.
• 4. Greenberg B. Flies and disease: ecology, classification and biotic association. New Jersey: Princeton University Press; 1971.
• 5. Legner EF, Moore I, Olton GS. Tabular keys & biological notes to common parasitoids of synanthropic Diptera breeding in accumulated animal wastes. Entomol News 1976;87:113-44.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Apr 2004
• Date of issue
  Apr 2004

History

• Accepted
  14 Oct 2003
• Reviewed
  21 Aug 2003
• Received
  06 Jan 2003