Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-v2bm5 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-31T08:43:30.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of host larvae on three Psyttalia species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

M.K. Billah ,
S. Kimani-Njogu ,
W.A. Overholt ,
R.A. Wharton ,
D.D. Wilson  and
M.A. Cobblah
M.K. Billah*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Zoology, University of Ghana, Box LG 67, Legon-Accra, Ghana
S. Kimani-Njogu
Affiliation:
Species2000 Project, University of Reading, UK
W.A. Overholt
Affiliation:
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida,Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
R.A. Wharton
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843 Texas, USA
D.D. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Ghana, Box LG 67, Legon-Accra, Ghana
M.A. Cobblah
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Ghana, Box LG 67, Legon-Accra, Ghana
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Three species of fruit fly parasitoids, Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti), Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) and Psyttalia lounsburyi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were reared on different host larvae to determine the effects of host species, size and colour on parasitoid development. Ovipositor, ovipositor sheath and hind tibia lengths were found to be different for progenies from preferred and non-preferred host larvae. Ratios of ovipositor–tibia and ovipositor sheath–tibia showed no difference when P. concolor was reared on a bigger host (Ceratitis cosyra) (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae), whereas rearing P. cosyrae on a smaller host (C. capitata) (Wiedemann) showed significant differences. Comparison of the linear measurements, ratios and number of flagellomeres of parasitoids reared on preferred hosts, separated the species into their natural groupings. When reared on a different-coloured host, P. lounsburyi lost its dark markings but other characters remained unchanged. Morphometric analysis also indicated differences between parasitoids reared on preferred host larvae and those reared on non-preferred host larvae. Rearing parasitoids on larvae other than their preferred hosts resulted in colour and size changes, and thus, these characters alone were not reliable for the identification of parasitoids. This is especially important in post-release sampling surveys to ascertain establishment of the parasitoids in new environments where they may adapt to new host species.

Keywords

PsyttaliaCeratitisparasitoidsfruit flieshost larvaeflagellomeres
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 168 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bianchi, F. A. and Krauss, N. H. (1937) Fruit fly investigations in East Africa. Hawaiian Planters Record, 41, 299–306.Google Scholar
Billah, M. K. (2004) Biosystematic studies of Psyttalia species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Parasitoids attacking fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Africa. PhD thesis, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra. 236 pp.Google Scholar
Clausen, C. P. (1978) Tephritidae (Trypetidae, Trupaeidae), pp. 320–325. Introduced Parasites and Predators of Arthropod Pests and Weeds: a World View (Edited by Clausen, C. P.). USDA Handbook 480 pp.Google Scholar
Clausen, C. P., Clancy, D. W. and Chock, Q. C. (1965) Biological control of the Oriental fruit fly and other fruit flies in Hawaii USDA Technical Bulletin No. 1322Google Scholar
Eben, A., Benrey, B., Sivinski, J. and Aluja, M. (2000) Host species and host plants effects on preference and performance of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environmental Entomology, 29, 87–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fischer, M. (1958) Ueber dei Variabilitaet von Toxonomisch wichtigen merkmalen bei Opius concolor Szepl. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Entomophaga, 3, 55–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fischer, M. (1972) Hymenoptera: Braconidae (Opiinae I). Das Tierreich, 91, 1–620.Google Scholar
Fischer, M. (1987) Hymenoptera: Opiinae III - äthiopische, orientalische, australische und ozeanische Region. Das Tierreich, 104, 1–734.Google Scholar
Fullaway, D. T.Report of the work of and the insectar. (1915) Report to the Board of Commissioners for Agriculture and Forestry. Division of Entomology Bulletin, 3, 148–153.Google Scholar
Godfray, H. C. J. (1994) Parasitoids: Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 473 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooper, G. H. S. (1987) Application of quality control procedures for large scale rearing of Mediterranean fruit fly. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 44, 161–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimani-Njogu, S. W., Trostle, M. K., Wharton, R. A., Woolley, J. B. and Raspi, A. (2001) Biosystematics of the Psyttalia concolor species complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae): the identity of populations attacking Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in coffee in Kenya. Biological Control, 20, 167–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mohamed, S. A., Overholt, W. A., Wharton, R. A., Lux, S. A. and Eltoum, E. M. (2003) Host specificity of Psyttalia cosyrae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the effect of different host species on parasitoid fitness. Biological Control, 28, 155–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ode, P. J. and Heinz, K. M. (2002) Host-size-dependent sex ratio theory and improving mass-reared parasitoid sex ratios. Biological Control, 24, 31–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salt, G. (1940) Experimental studies in insect parasitism. VII. The effects of different hosts on the parasite Trichogramma evanescens Westwood. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, 15, 81–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS and Institute Inc. (2001) SAS/STAT® User's Guide, Version 8.2. Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Silvestri, F. (1914) Report of an expedition to Africa in search of the natural enemies of fruit flies, Territory of Hawaiian Board for Agriculture and Forestry. Division of Entomology Bulletini No. 3 Translation of 1913 report in Italian, 176 pp.Google Scholar
Sivinski, J., Vulinec, K. and Aluja, M. (2001) Ovipositor length in a guild of parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking Anastrepha species fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Southern Mexico. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 94, 886–895.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sokal, R. R. and Rohlf, F. J. (1995) Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research, 3rd Edition. Freeman, W.H. and Company, USA. 887 pp.Google Scholar
Wharton, R. A. (1987) Changes in nomenclature and classification of some opiine Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 89, 61–73.Google Scholar
Wharton, R. A. (1989) Control; classical biological control of fruit-infesting Tephritidae, pp. 303–313 In Fruit Flies; their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. World Crop Pests, 3(B) (Edited by Robinson, A. S., Hooper, G.) Elsevier Science Publishers Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Wharton, R. A. (1997a) Generic relationships of opiine Braconidae (Hymenoptera) parasitic on fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, 30, 1–53.Google Scholar
Wharton, R. A. (1997b) Subfamily Opiinae, pp. 378–395 Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera) (Edited by Wharton, R. A., Marsh, P. M., Sharkey, M. J. Special publication of The International Society of Hymenopterists.) No.1.Google Scholar
Wharton, R. A. and Gilstrap, F. E. (1983) Key to and status of opiine braconid (Hymenoptera) parasitoids used in biological control of Ceratitis and Dacus s.l (Diptera: Tephritidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 76, 721–742.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, I. M. and Elson-Harris, M. M. (1992) Fruit flies of economic significance: Their Identification and Bionomics. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, 602 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar