Environmental Entomology (2016) 45, 328-337

Pablo Montoya, Amanda Ayala, Patricia López, Jorge Cancino, Héctor Cabrera, Jassmin Cruz, Ana Mabel Martinez, Isaac Figueroa and Pablo Liedo (2016)
Natural parasitism in fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations in disturbed areas adjacent to commercial mango orchards in Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico
Environmental Entomology 45 (2), 328-337
Abstract: To determine the natural parasitism in fruit fly populations in disturbed areas adjacent to commercial mango orchards in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico, we recorded over one year the fruit fly–host associations, fly infestation, and parasitism rates in backyard orchards and patches of native vegetation. We also investigated the relationship between fruit size, level of larval infestation, and percent of parasitism, and attempted to determine the presence of superparasitism. The most recurrent species in trap catches was Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), followed by Anastrepha ludens (Loew), in both study zones. The fruit infestation rates were higher in Chiapas than in Veracruz, with A. obliqua again being the most conspicuous species emerging from collected fruits. The diversity of parasitoids species attacking fruit fly larvae was greater in Chiapas, with a predominance of Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) in both sites, although the exotic Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) was well established in Chiapas. Fruit size was positively correlated with the number of larvae per fruit, but this relationship was not observed in the level of parasitism. The number of oviposition scars was not related to the number of immature parasitoids inside the pupa of D. areolatus emerging from plum fruits. Mass releases of Di. longicaudata seem not to affect the presence or prevalence of the native species. Our findings open new research scenarios on the role and impact of native parasitoid species attacking Anastrepha flies that can contribute to the development of sound strategies for using these species in projects for augmentative biological control.
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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:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anastrepha ludens		Mexico
	Anastrepha obliqua		Mexico
Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (parasitoid)			Mexico
Doryctobracon areolatus (parasitoid)			Mexico