Behavior and Chemical Ecology of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata: basic studies as tools to improve biological control programs against fruit fly in Argentina

D. F. SEGURA; DEVESCOVI, F.; C.A. CONTE; WULFF, J. P.; S.M. OVRUSKI; M.M. VISCARRET; S.B. LANZAVECCHIA; CLADERA, J.L.

Londrina

Congreso; SICONBIOL 2019; 2019

Tephritidaefruit flies (Diptera) are amongst the most destructive pest of commercial fruitworldwide. Environmentally friendly control strategies used against such pestsinclude a biological control component, mainly through the use of exoticparasitoids. In particular, the wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmead(Braconidae) is one of the most commonly used biocontrol agents. Thislarval-pupal parasitoid is native to the Indo-Pacific region and was firstimported to the Americas in the 1970s to control native fruit flies of thegenera Anastrepha and the highly destructive Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitiscapitata Wied. Since then, this parasitoid has been introduced in severalcountries, including Brazil and Argentina. In this presentation, we will summarizea series of studies focused on the foraging behavior of D. longicaudatafemales, particularly centered in the host searching behavior. We found thatparasitoid females are able to detect fruit infested with larvae using chemicalcues, derived from the host larvae, as well as from the substrate (rottenfruit). GC-MS analyses of the volatile compounds released by these attractivesources allowed to postulate specific compounds that females would use tolocate host larvae. Our work has shown that females have innate preference forspecific host fruit odors and the basis of this preference seems to be relatedmore to the easiness of attacking host larvae buried into the fruit flesh thanto the quality of the host larvae. Color, on the other hand, did not trigger aninnate preference in this species. However, we found that D. longicaudata hashigh ability to associate visual, as well as chemical, cues during hostsearching, making them more and more efficient at host finding with experience.The potential contribution of studies such as those carried out by our group tothe management of insect pests through natural enemies will be furtherdiscussed.