Florida Entomologist (2003) 86, 53-60

Miguel Lopez, John Sivinski, Pedro Rendon, Tim Holler, Ken Bloem, Robert Copeland, Marcia Trostle and Martin Aluja (2003)
Colonization of Fopius ceratitivorus, a newly discovered African egg-pupal parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Florida Entomologist 86 (1), 53-60
Abstract: Fopius ceratitivorus Wharton is a recently discovered braconid parasitoid of the Mediterranean fruit fly (= medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wied.). Unlike other parasitoids previously used in medfly biological control, F. ceratitivorus was originally collected from medfly in its purported region of origin, east Africa. Shipments of Ceratitis spp. pupae from Kenya to a newly constructed quarantine facility in Guatemala yielded both F. ceratitivorus and its congener F. caudatus (Szèpligeti). Only the former species was successfully colonized through the use of medfly infested coffee berries. In the process of colonization it was determined that F. ceratitivorus oviposited into the eggs and recently hatched larvae of medflies and completed development in the hosts' puparia. This is a relatively rare behavior among fruit fly parasitoids and, because tephritid eggs near the surface of fruits are particularly vulnerable to attack, one that might contribute to its success as a biological control agent.

F. ceratitivorus Wharton es un parasitoide Braconido de la mosca del Mediterráneo (= moscamed), Ceratitis capitata (Wied.), recientemente descubierto. A diferencia de otros parasitoides previamente usados en el control biológico de la moscamed, F. ceratitivorus fue colectado originalmente de moscamed en su supuesta región de origen, al este de Africa. Envíos de pupa de tephritidos desde Kenia hacia la recientemente construida instalación de Cuarentena en Guatemala, produjeron especimenes de F. ceratitivorus y su congener F. caudatus (Szepligeti). Solo la primera especie fue colonizada exitosamente mediante el uso de frutos de café infestados por moscamed. En el proceso de colonización se determinó que F. ceratitivorus oviposita sobre los huevos y larvas recientemente eclosionadas de moscamed, y que completa su desarrollo en la pupa huésped. Este es un comportamiento relativamente raro dentro de los parasitoides de moscas de la fruta, y debido a que los huevos de los tephritidos cercanos a la superficie del fruto son particularmente vulnerables, ello podría contribuir a su éxito como agente de control biológico.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Martín Aluja

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata		Guatemala
Fopius ceratitivorus (parasitoid)			Kenya
Fopius ceratitivorus (parasitoid)	Ceratitis capitata