Biological and Population Parameters, as well as Oviposition Preference, of Two Pupal Parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Mexico

Abstract

In 2013–2015, Mexico implemented a program of exploration and evaluation of native parasitoids of the spotted-wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). Those efforts identified Pachycrepoideus vindemmaie Rondani and Trichopria drosophilae Perkins as native parasitoid species. Biological and population parameters, including oviposition preference on locally occurring species of Drosophilidae, were subsequently studied and quantified. Trichopria drosophilae required fewer days than P. vindemmiae in the larval stage, pupal stage, and development time of egg to adult, as well as exhibitied a higher intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (T), and doubling time (Dt), but its net reproduction rate (Ro) was lower. On the other hand, both parasitoids showed no differences in female longevity, sex ratio, and duration of egg stage. In the oviposition preference tests, D. suzukii pupae were equally preferred as those of Zaprionus indianus Gupta, but more than Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. These results indicate that local T. drosophilae has a higher potential to contribute to the ecological management of the invasive D. suzukii in Mexico than P. vindemmiae.