Florida Entomologist (2004) 87, 274-277

Alfredo Castillo, Francisco Infante, Guillermo López, Javier Trujillo, Lawrence R. Kirkendall and Fernando E. Vega (2004)
Laboratory parasitism by Phymastichus coffea (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) upon non-target bark beetles associated with coffee plantations
Florida Entomologist 87 (3), 274-277
Abstract: Phymastichus coffea (LaSalle) is an African parasitoid of adults of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) that has been introduced to Mexico and other Central and South American countries for the biological control of this important pest. The present study assessed the host specificity of this parasitoid in the laboratory. We tested the acceptance and parasitism of P. coffea on five species of bark beetle adults commonly found in coffee plantations of Mexico: Hypothenemus crudiae, H. plumeriae, H. eruditus, Scolytodes borealis and Araptus fossifrons. As a control, we used adults of H. hampei the natural host. P. coffea parasitized and successfully completed its life cycle in H. crudiae and H. eruditus, as well as in H. hampei. The degree to which bark beetles were attacked by P. coffea was estimated by percent of parasitism, which was 64% for H. hampei, 14% for H. crudiae, and 6% for H. eruditus. The risk of potential deleterious effects of the parasitoid on non-target organisms in coffee agroecosystems is discussed.

Phymastichus coffea (LaSalle) es un parasitoide africano de adultos de la broca del café Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) que ha sido introducido a México y otros países de Centro y Sudamérica para el control biológico de esta importante plaga. El presente trabajo se llevó a cabo con la finalidad de evaluar la especificidad de huéspedes de este parasitoide en el laboratorio. Se probó la aceptación y parasitismo de P. coffea sobre adultos de cinco especies de descortezadores comúnmente encontrados en plantaciones de café de México: Hypothenemus crudiae, H. plumeriae, H. eruditus, Scolytodes borealis y Araptus fossifrons. Como control se usaron adultos de H. hampei (hospedero natural). P. coffea parasitó y completó exitosamente su ciclo biológico en sólo dos especies de escolítidos, H. crudiae y H. eruditus, además de H. hampei. El grado en el cual los descortezadores fueron atacados por P. coffea fue estimado por el porcentaje de parasitismo el cual fue de 64% para H. hampei, 14% para H. crudiae, y 6% para H. eruditus. Es discutido el riesgo de los efectos negativos potenciales de este parasitoide sobre organismos no blanco en agroecosistemas de café.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Lawrence R. Kirkendall, Francisco Infante

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hypothenemus hampei	Coffee (Coffea)	Mexico
	Hypothenemus eruditus		Mexico
Phymastichus coffea (parasitoid)	Hypothenemus hampei	Coffee (Coffea)	Mexico
Phymastichus coffea (parasitoid)	Hypothenemus eruditus		Mexico