Biología de los parasitoides: fundamentos para su empleo en el control biológico de plagas

BARAKAT, M. CANDELA; DÍAZ, SOFÍA P.; DIOS DE VILHENA PEREZ, RODRIGO; CINGOLANI, M. FERNANDA

Congreso; 7th International Entomophagous Insects Conference; 2023

Neobrachelia edessae (Diptera: Tachinidae) is a Neotropical parasitoid fly ofthe stink bug Edessa meditabunda (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). We evaluatedthe life history of this parasitoid offering stink bugs to mated females, and theparasitism behaviour was observed. Hosts were then kept under controlledconditions until death or the emergence of the parasitoid pupae. The larvaeto pupae and pupae to adult development times, pupal weight, and adultlongevity were recorded. We analysed the fly´s development on 102parasitized hosts. During parasitism, the fly went above the stink bug andinserted one or more microtypical eggs inside the body of the host throughviolent and very quick movements. It took on average 3 seconds for eachfemale to manipulate the host and lay an egg in it. An average of 28.7 dayswas needed to complete the larval stages within the host, and 19 days tocomplete the pupal stage. Each individual pupa weighted on average 19.9 mg.Average adult longevity was 11.2 days. Given that biological information ofthis species is very scarce, as it is the case for many tachinid species, theseresults are very relevant for the design of biological control programs in thefuture.