Effect of host density and location on the percentage parasitism, fertility and induced mortality of Aganaspis daci (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), a parasitoid of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Pedro, Luis de; Beitia, Francisco J.; Ferrara, Fernando; Asís, Josep Daniel; Sabater-Muñoz, Beatriz; Tormos, J.

doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2016.11.007

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Both high (30-35°C) and low (ca. Based on previous experiments on the optimal development of this parasitoid, such as suitable host fruits or parasitoid/host ratios (Andleeb et al, 2010;Hosni et al, 2011;de Pedro et al, 2013ade Pedro et al, ,b, 2016de Pedro et al, , 2017, an experiment was designed to investigate the variation in parasitic activity of A. daci over time. One hypothesis is that the low fertility of A. daci is due to its inability to oviposit effectively under field climatic conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IVIA initiated in 2003 an Integrated Plan of Action against C. capitata in the Valencian Region (Comunidad Valenciana, Spain), which aims to include both exotic parasitoids Falc o et al, 2003) and native or naturalized parasitoids (Falc o et al, 2006). Since 2011 many experiments have been performed to increase our knowledge of the biology, ecology, and parasitic activity of this species (de Pedro et al, 2013a(de Pedro et al, , 2016(de Pedro et al, , 2017Tormos et al, 2013). This parasitoid was recovered for the first time in this area from medfly larvae recovered from fig and citrus fruits in the summer of 2009 in Valencia (Sabater-Muñoz et al, 2012).…”

Section: Experimental Area and Insect Rearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This parasitoid was recovered for the first time in this area from medfly larvae recovered from fig and citrus fruits in the summer of 2009 in Valencia (Sabater-Muñoz et al, 2012). Since 2011 many experiments have been performed to increase our knowledge of the biology, ecology, and parasitic activity of this species (de Pedro et al, 2013a(de Pedro et al, , 2016(de Pedro et al, , 2017Tormos et al, 2013).…”

Section: Experimental Area and Insect Rearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, although this wasp was proved to be effective against various species of fruit flies (Baranowski et al, 1993;Ovruski et al, 2000Ovruski et al, , 2007, its potential as control agent against C. capitata is still not fully clear, mostly because of scarcity of data from many areas and different medfly fruit hosts. It also developed successfully from medfly-infested apples in controlled experiments in Spain (de Pedro et al, 2017). It also developed successfully from medfly-infested apples in controlled experiments in Spain (de Pedro et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Aganaspis daci was found to attack medfly in Greece in fig fruits (Papadopoulos & Katsoyannos, 2003), in Syria in loquat, guava, peach, and grapefruit (Ali et al, 2015(Ali et al, , 2016, and in Spain in fig and citrus fruits (Verd u et al, 2011;Sabater-Muñoz et al, 2012). It also developed successfully from medfly-infested apples in controlled experiments in Spain (de Pedro et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parasitism of Aganaspis daci against Ceratitis capitata under Mediterranean climate conditions

Pedro

Beitia

Sabater-Muñoz

et al. 2017

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The effect of environmental factors is essential to the success of parasitoids as biological control agents, as it determines their foraging activity, development, and survival. The larval-pupal parasitoid wasp Aganaspis daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is known to have a very low fertility (i.e., offspring production) in the field in certain Mediterranean areas, probably due to its inability to efficiently oviposit under such climatic conditions. In this study, the percentage of parasitism and induced mortality (mortality of host pupae attributed to parasitoids, from which adults do not emerge) caused by this wasp to the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was assessed under field conditions across 1 year, using medfly-infested apples and parasitoid-confined release in a lemon orchard of southeastern Spain. As A. daci is known to have very few emergences in the field, fertility was assessed in the laboratory from parasitized pupae recovered from the field. We found average parasitism rates of 27% and high induced mortality rates of 66% under field conditions. Consequently, medfly population reduction (total mortality of C. capitata caused by A. daci, i.e., induced mortality + % parasitism) was, on average, 87%. Parasitism and induced mortality varied throughout the year, depending on the average temperature and relative humidity. The interaction of these factors resulted in the highest parasitism rates at low mean temperature and humidity values; likewise, the highest percentages of induced mortality were obtained with a combination of high mean temperature and low mean humidity values. In conclusion, A. daci may exert a strong impact on medfly populations, being a good candidate for inundative field releases for the management of C. capitata in the Mediterranean Basin.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Area and Insect Rearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Area and Insect Rearingmentioning

confidence: 99%