The optimal age and radiation dose for Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) eggs as hosts for mass-reared Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Chemical Cues Induced from Fly-Oviposition Mediate the Host-Seeking Behaviour of Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an Effective Egg Parasitoid of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), within a Tritrophic Context

“…Multiple control tactics incorporating cultural practices, male annihilation, attractant sprays, and biological control, have been explored regarding the integrated management of B. dorsalis and other fruit fly species [2,6,7]. Nevertheless, the application of chemical pesticides still plays an essential role in suppressing this pest in the field, which inevitably has detrimental effects on humans, animals, and the environment [7].…”

“…Multiple control tactics incorporating cultural practices, male annihilation, attractant sprays, and biological control, have been explored regarding the integrated management of B. dorsalis and other fruit fly species [2,6,7]. Nevertheless, the application of chemical pesticides still plays an essential role in suppressing this pest in the field, which inevitably has detrimental effects on humans, animals, and the environment [7]. The use of parasitoids is an environmentally friendly approach, which is often part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for the control of frugivorous tephritid fruit fly species [2,8]; its successful application against B. dorsalis has been fully demonstrated in the Hawaii islands and French Polynesia [2,[8][9][10].…”

Irradiation of early immature Anastrepha ludens stages for the rearing of Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a fruit fly parasitoid

“…Our results indicate that it is possible to use second instar larvae (irradiated as eggs or as first instar larvae) for rearing D. areolatus. According to Costa et al (2016) and Cai et al (2017), the use of such early stages offers the advantage of simplifying the irradiation procedure. However, it is important to highlight that young developmental stages of the insects are also more susceptible to the negative effects of radiation (Benschoter and Telich, 1964) since the organisms experience several important metabolic changes during these stages (Hallman and Worley, 1999;Han et al, 2006;Mastrangelo and Walder, 2011).…”

“…Mastrangelo and Walder (2011) previously suggested that radiation of earlier stages could be associated with reduced development and thus lower survival of the irradiated hosts, which would decrease the efficiency of any mass rearing process. Painthankar et al (2017) reported negative effects on the pupation capacity of Drosophila melanogaster when larvae were irradiated at intermediate instar; Cai et al (2017) reported that doses above 20 Gy in eggs of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) caused reduced pupal weight. No significant effects of radiation were observed on the development of immature fly stages, suggesting that the use of irradiated A. ludens larvae for rearing D. areolatus offers operational advantages.…”

Parasitoid wasps as effective biological control agents

“…To remove the unparasitized emerging flies, radiation was applied to B. dorsalis at an optimal dose during correct developmental stages without affecting the performance of the parasitoid. F. arisanus can be directly applied to control pest populations in the field (Cai et al 2017). Spalangia endius (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a solitary pupal endoparasitoid that parasitizes many fruit fly species, is also a good candidate for fly biocontrol.…”