Abstract
Simple SummaryThe predaceous fly Coenosia attenuata Stein has received attention because of its ability to effectively suppress a wide range of agricultural pests, such as fungus gnats, whiteflies and leaf miners. An effective level of control requires large numbers of C. attenuata to be available at low cost for release. Adult fungus gnats and drosophilids are now the main prey used to rear C. attenuata adults. However, previous studies showed C. attenuata fertility is lower when fed drosophilids compared to fungus gnats. The current study investigated the performance of C. attenuata adults when reared on different densities of adult Drosophila melanogaster Meigen or Bradysia impatiens (Johannsem). Results showed that the optimal prey density in the mass rearing of adult C. attenuata was 12–24 adult B. impatiens daily per predator. Additionally, C. attenuata adults suffered more wing damage, at some of the prey densities, when reared on D. melanogaster compared to B. impatiens. This information will be used to optimize rearing methods and decrease the cost of mass rearing in C. attenuata.Mass production of Coenosia attenuata Stein at low cost is very important for their use as a biological control agent. The present study reports the performance of C. attenuata adults when reared on Drosophila melanogaster Meigen or Bradysia impatiens (Johannsem). Different densities (6, 9, 15, 24 and 36 adults per predator) of D. melanogaster or (6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 adults per predator) of B. impatiens were used at 26 ± 1 °C, 14:10 (L:D) and 70 ± 5% RH. The results concluded that C. attenuata adults had higher fecundity, longer longevity and less wing damage when reared on B. impatiens adults compared to D. melanogaster adults. Additionally, C. attenuata adults demonstrated greater difficulty catching and carrying heavier D. melanogaster adults than lighter B. impatiens adults. In this case, 12 to 24 adults of B. impatiens daily per predator were considered optimal prey density in the mass rearing of adult C. attenuata.
Highlights
The results concluded that C. attenuata adults had higher fecundity, longer longevity and less wing damage when reared on B. impatiens adults compared to D. melanogaster adults
The present study reports our finding that C. attenuata adults had less wing damage, higher fecundity and longer longevity when reared on Bradysia impatiens (Johannsem) (Diptera: Sciaridae) compared to Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
The mean proportion of damaged wings of C. attenuata females fed on D. melanogaster and males fed on B. impatiens or D. melanogaster did not differ significantly between prey densities at early ages (F4, 220 = 1.27, p = 0.2826; F4, 220 = 1.55, p = 0.1886; F4, 220 = 2.4, p = 0.0513, respectively) (Figure 1B–D)
Summary
The predaceous fly Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera: Muscidae), known as “tiger fly”, “killer fly” or “hunter fly” [1,2,3,4], is native to Southern Europe [4,5] and has been reported to have spontaneously colonized a number of crops outdoors and in greenhouses in many countries worldwide [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21] It has received attention because of its ability to effectively suppress a wide range of agricultural pests, such as fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae), whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), leaf miners (Diptera: Agromyzidae), winged aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), leafhoppers of the genera Eupteryx (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Empoasca (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), midges (Diptera: Chironomidae), moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae), shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) and fruit flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) [7,8,13,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35]. Wing damage will cause negative effects on the life of C. attenuata adults
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