BioControl (2009) 54, 437-444

Pablo Montoya, Alfonso Suárez, Florida López and Jorge Cancino (2009)
Fopius arisanus oviposition in four Anastrepha fruit fly species of economic importance in Mexico
BioControl 54 (3), 437-444
Abstract: We studied the oviposition performance of Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking eggs of four fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) under laboratory conditions. The complete process of oviposition on an individual egg of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) lasts in average 85.4 ± 2.9 s, including a tremor (25.8 ± 1.03 s) observed in the middle of this process related to the egg's descent. The average parasitism of A. ludens egg was 60.9 ± 7.5%, with only 1.2% of superparasitized eggs. During individual acts of oviposition, we noted that F. arisanus possesses a highly flexible ovipositor that curves easily as it searches for additional suitable eggs, which may be of particular benefit when a female finds large clutches of eggs. The individual oviposition of F. arisanus in host fruits attacked by Anastrepha spp. varies with the egg clutch size of each fruit fly species: A. serpentina laid the biggest egg clutches (21.3 ± 1.4), followed by A. ludens (14.2 ± 0.9), and A. striata (1.0 ± 0.0) (=A. obliqua). The time spent by F. arisanus in individual ovipositions was parallel to these findings, reinforcing the idea that F. arisanus attacks several eggs in each individual insertion of its ovipositor. Neither formal oviposition acts, nor adult emergences of F. arisanus were registered in A. obliqua. We discuss the potential of F. arisanus as natural enemy of fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha, and explore the eventual developing of its mass rearing.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Pablo Montoya

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anastrepha ludens		Mexico
	Anastrepha obliqua		Mexico
	Anastrepha striata		Mexico
	Anastrepha serpentina		Mexico
Fopius arisanus (parasitoid)	Anastrepha ludens		Mexico
Fopius arisanus (parasitoid)	Anastrepha striata		Mexico
Fopius arisanus (parasitoid)	Anastrepha serpentina		Mexico