Demographic parameters of Trichopria drosophilae in three host species

Abstract

AbstractTrichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) is a cosmopolitan endoparasitoid of the pupal stages of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and other Drosophila species around the world. It is also considered as a potential biocontrol agent of this pest. Here we describe the effects of three hosts (D. suzukii, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, and Drosophila immigrans Sturtevant) on the demographic parameters of T. drosophilae. Adult female T. drosophilae that emerged from D. immigrans and D. suzukii were larger than those that emerged from D. melanogaster. Fertility was 18% greater for T. drosophilae that developed on D. immigrans and D. suzukii, compared with those developing on D. melanogaster. The net reproductive rate of T. drosophilae was higher on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (R0 = 25.25 and 26.51) than on D. melanogaster (R0 = 22.53). However, the generation time was longer on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (T = 20.38 and 19.59 days, respectively) than on D. melanogaster (T = 17.20 days), perhaps due to their larger size. This favored the intrinsic rate of natural increase of T. drosophilae reproducing on D. melanogaster (rm = 0.181) compared with those reproducing on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (rm = 0.158 and 0.167, respectively). Parasitism rate of D. suzukii by T. drosophilae was 53% regardless of the host species from which the parasitoid had emerged. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of biological control of D. suzukii.