Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society (2008) 40, 61-66

A.H. Bokonon-Ganta and R.H. Messing (2008)
Response of the egg-larval parasitoid, Fopius ceratitivorus Wharton (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to the gall-forming tephritid fly, Eutreta xanthochaeta (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 40, 61-66
Abstract: We investigated the potential impact of the imported biological control agent Fopius ceratitivorus Wharton, on the non-target beneficial tephritid, Eutreta xanthochaeta on the lantana weed, Lantana camara. In a no-choice test, where the wasp was offered nothing but infested lantana weed, and in a choice test, where the wasp was offered both the non-target fly and its normal host, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), F. ceratitivorus showed no positive response and caused neither parasitism nor mortality to E. xanthochaeta eggs or larvae. Infested plants exposed to F. ceratitivorus were reared until all flies eclosed, over which time not a single wasp emerged, indicating that F. ceratitivorus is unable to recognize the microhabitat of this gall-forming tephritid. These results, in addition to previous work with two other non-target tephritids, suggest minimal risk of environmental impact from this new biological control agent.
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Database assignments for author(s): Aimé H. Bokonon-Ganta

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
	Lantana camara (weed)		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
Eutreta xanthochaeta (weed bioagent)	Lantana camara (weed)		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
Fopius ceratitivorus (parasitoid)	Ceratitis capitata		U.S.A. (Hawaii)