Host suitability and fitness-related parameters in Coptera haywardi (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) reared on irradiated Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tehritidae) pupae stemming from the genetic sexing Vienna-8 strain with a temperature-sensitive lethal mutation

SEGUNDO NUÑEZ CAMPERO; LORENA SUAREZ; JOSEFINA BUONOCORE; JORGE CANCINO,; FERNANADO MURUA; DIEGO MOLINA; OSVALDO LARIA; MARTIN ALUJA,; OVRUSKI, SERGIO

JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: Lanham; Año: 2020 vol. 113 p. 1666 - 1674

0022-0493

Coptera haywardi (Ogloblin) is a pupal endoparasioid of tephritid flies with great potential as a biological control agent worldwide as it does not attack other Diptera. To reach its full potential, its mass rearing needs to be enhanced lowering costs. Here we focused on the use of irradiated pupae stemming from the tsl Vienna-8 Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) strain (= CcVienna-8) mass produced in the San Juan Medfly and Parasitoid Mass Rearing Facility in Argentina. 1?2 d-old CcVienna-8 pupae irradiated at 90 Gy at 10:1 host/parasitoid ratio, and exposed to 6?8 d-old C. haywardi females for 24 h turned out to be highly successful for C. haywardi rearing. High radiation doses (90-100 Gy) did not adversely influence fitness parameters of C. haywardi offspring F1, namely, lifetime reproductive rates, adult life expectancy, and survival time. Demographic parameters in C. haywardi F1 from irradiated CcVienna-8 young pupae were improved compared to those values recorded from parasitoid originated from non-irradiated CcVienna-8 pupae. These findings will help enhance parasitoid mass rearing for augmentative releases against medfly in Argentinean fruit-producing regions.