Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1998) 89, 79-85

Renato C. Bautista, Ernest J. Harris and Pauline O. Lawrence (1998)
Biology and rearing of the fruit fly parasitoid Biosteres arisanus: clues to insectary propagation
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 89 (1), 79-85
Abstract: Aspects of Biosteres arisanus (Sonan) (= Opius oophilus Fullaway) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) development on the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera (= Dacus) dorsalis (Hendel), were investigated to facilitate mass production in the insectary. Life table statistics were generated for cohorts of B. arisanus females. Overlap in the emergence of fruit flies and parasitoids necessitated a procedure for segregation, preferably before adult eclosion. Rate of parasitization by B. arisanus increased with host clutch size reaching a plateau at 20:1 host egg to female parasitoid ratio. Duration of the oviposition period influenced the level of host parasitization; host eggs were exposed to parasitoids for 24 h with minimal superparasitism. Females were highly productive within 3 weeks after emergence producing 40-70% females in the progeny. Adult males were shorter lived than females by ~5 days. Based on a net reproductive rate (R0) of >16 daughters per female parent, a population increase of 10% was predicted each day. Handling procedures that could facilitate efficient production of parasitoids are discussed.
(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): Ernest J. Harris

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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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)