Journal of Economic Entomology (2020) 113, 73-80

Xingeng Wang, Antonio Biondi and Kent M. Daane (2020)
Functional responses of three candidate Asian larval parasitoids evaluated for classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 113 (1), 73-80
Abstract: Drosophila suzukii has become a key invasive pest of soft- and thin-skinned fruit crops in its invaded regions in Europe and Americas, where naturally occurring natural enemies are generally not effective for the suppression of this pest or largely absent such as larval-attacking parasitoids. As a part of systematic evaluations of candidate agents for classical biological control of this invasive pest, we evaluated the functional responses of three Asian-native larval hymenopteran parasitoids, Asobara japonica (Braconidae), Ganaspis brasiliensis, and Leptopilina japonica (both Figitidae) to D. suzukii or Drosophila melanogaster (A. japonica only) larvae. Host larval densities were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 larvae per test for A. japonica and 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, or 42 larvae per test for G. brasiliensis or L. japonica. Host larvae were provided in standard artificial diet in tubes for a 24-h exposure to individual female parasitoids under the quarantine conditions (23°C). All three parasitoids showed a linear (type I) functional response to the tested host densities. Host species (for A. japonica only) did not affect the number of hosts parasitized or the functional response. Asobara japonica was more efficient than either figitid in terms of the searching efficiency while L. japonica preformed slightly better than G. brasiliensis under the tested conditions. The results are discussed with respect to the selection of parasitoid species to be released in North America and Europe to suppress D. suzukii.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Xin-Geng Wang, Antonio Biondi, Kent M. Daane

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.
	Drosophila suzukii
Asobara japonica (parasitoid)	Drosophila suzukii
Ganaspis brasiliensis (parasitoid)	Drosophila suzukii
Leptopilina japonica (parasitoid)	Drosophila suzukii