Does the Neotropical-native parasitoid Ganaspis pelleranoi successfully attack the globally invasive pest Drosphila suzukii?

BUONOCORE BIANCHERI M.J.; NÚÑEZ CAMPERO S.R.; SUÁREZ L.; PONSSA M.D.; KIRSCHBAUM D.S.; OVRUSKI S.M. ; MELLO GARCIA F. R.

ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2024

0013-8703

AbstractThe Asian Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a harmful invasive pest widespread throughout Argentinean fruit-producing regions. It coexists with both pests, the sub-Saharan African Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and the Neotropical-native Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in northwestern Argentina. The Neotropical‐native parasitoid Ganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is frequently found from non-crop fruit infested by those frugivorous dipterans. The Argentinian northwestern region is known for producing and exporting berries and citrus, which are affected by those pests. Thus, eco-friendly control strategies are under assessment. This study mainly assessed the potential of the G. pelleranoi population lineage from Tucumán (=GpTuc) as a D. suzukii biocontrol agent. Firstly, both the host killing effectiveness and the reproductive success of GpTuc on D. suzukii, C. capitata, A. fraterculus and Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) larvae in no-choice tests under lab-condition were compared. Secondly, the GpTuc host preference was evaluated in dual-choice tests (D. suzukii-C. capitata and D. suzukii-A. fraterculus) under both lab- and field-conditions. Naïve parasitoid females were allowed to forage for 8 h on screen-covered Petri dishes filled with host larvae under lab-conditions and for 48 h on peaches inoculated with host larvae under field-conditions. Host puparia dissections were performed to determine number and condition of parasitoid eggs, first- and second-instars, such as alive, dead without or with melanization process, and proportions of parasitized, superparasitized and dead puparia. Drosophila suzukii was not a suitable host for the successful development of GpTuc immature stages as they did not overcome the host´s immune system. However, GpTuc performed efficiently in terms of D. suzukii mortality, but parasitoid specificity was restricted to both tephritid species as only from them thriving offspring were achieved. Interestingly, the effectiveness of GpTuc on D. suzukii increased when it co-occurred with C. capitata instead of A. fraterculus, the preferred host.