A re-examination of Tuta absoluta parasitoids in South America for optimized biological control

SALAS GERVASSIO, NADIA G.; AQUINO, DANIEL; VALLINA, CONSUELO; BIONDI, ANTONIO; LUNA, MARÍA G.

JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2019

1612-4758

We conducted a review of published information on Tuta absoluta parasitoids for the Neotropical region to (1) corroboratespecies records, (2) analyze associations including the T. absoluta, other insect and plant hosts and (3) identify researchdirections for enhancing their use as biological control agents. The literature review shows more than 50 species or morphospeciesof Hymenoptera associated with T. absoluta, but less than a half (23) could be confirmed as parasitizing T. absoluta.Erroneous reports or invalid names of species, two new species records were found. Over a 100 pests and non-economicallyimportant insect and cultivated and non-cultivated plants directly or indirectly interact with T. absoluta in the region. FourT. absoluta parasitoid species include in their host range predatory insects or act as hyperparasitoids, a negative feature consideredfor a biological control agent. Five larval parasitoids have a narrow host range and could be considered for classicalbiological control programs in the areas of new invasion. Six Trichogrammatidae species are commercially used in variouscountries; of those, T. minutum and T. pretiosum are considered to be moderately generalist, being able to exploit severalinsect hosts. Apart from Apanteles gelechiidivoris and Pseudapanteles dignus, other native species have been the subjectof field studies as biological control agents. The review presented here provides useful insights for identifying species thatdeserve further evaluation as T. absoluta biological control agents through augmentative or conservation strategies in SouthAmerica, as well as for potential classical biological control programs in other continents.