BioControl (2017) 62, 595-602

Rafael da Silva Gonçalves, Nicholas Chirivas Manoukis and Dori Edson Nava (2017)
Effect of Fopius arisanus oviposition experience on parasitization of Bactrocera dorsalis
BioControl 62 (5), 595-602
Abstract: Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important fruit fly parasitoid, successfully introduced in programs of classical biological control around the world. One aspect of its reproductive biology that has received increasing attention is the role of learning on parasitization by individual females. In this study, we examined the effect of previous oviposition opportunities on the reproductive success and progeny sex ratio of F. arisanus on eggs of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae). Our results indicate that the proportion of eggs parasitized and parasitoid yield both increase with increasing experience, as acquired by individual females via previous oviposition opportunities. These effects are shown to be unrelated to parasitoid age out to three weeks, which we found not to have an effect on parasitization, yield, or sex ratio. We discuss the implications of our results on mass rearing and also in terms of the efficiency of this biological control agent in the field.
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Database assignments for author(s): Dori Edson Nava

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.
	Bactrocera dorsalis		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
Fopius arisanus (parasitoid)	Bactrocera dorsalis		U.S.A. (Hawaii)