Trichopria anastrephae: A Promising Neotropical-Native Parasitoid for Drosophila suzukii Control

BUONOCORE-BIANCHERI, MARÍA JOSEFINA; SUÁREZ, LORENA DEL CARMEN; NÚÑEZ-CAMPERO, SEGUNDO RICARDO; PONSSA, MARCOS DARÍO; MELLO GARCIA, FLÁVIO ROBERTO; KIRSCHBAUM, DANIEL SANTIAGO; OVRUSKI, SERGIO MARCELO

Agronomy

MDPI

Año: 2024 vol. 14

Abstract: The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), native to Southeast Asia, is an invasive pest mainly affecting berry and stone fruit crops worldwide. In Argentina, it inhabits throughout fruit-growing regions. The successful control of D. suzukii populations in agroecosys tems and surrounding non-crop areas depends on implementing sustainable, long-term, eco friendly integrated management strategies. One approach may involve biological control by using resident parasitoids. The Neotropical‐native pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima has been recovered from D. suzukii puparia infesting non-crop fruits in northwestern Argentina. The study compares the host-killing effectiveness and the offspring reproductive success of two T. anastrephae population lineages on puparia of both D. suzukii and D. melanogaster in no-choice and choice tests under lab-conditions. The host preference and switching are also assessed. In no-choice tests, T. anastrephae performed similarly on both hosts regarding the percentage of killed hosts and offspring survival. In choice tests, it attacked mainly D. suzukii at very high ratios of this host. However, at equal host ratio or higher D. melanogaster ratios, T. anastrephae preferred this native host. Notwith standing, T. anastrephae killing capacity over D. suzukii was highly relevant, showing this native parasitoid´s potential to control the recently-introduced D. suzukii.