Hymenopterous Larval–Pupal and Pupal Parasitoids of Anastrepha Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Mexico

Abstract

We surveyed 15 wild and cultivated plant species in search of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids during 4 years (1993–1996) in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The following species were infested by Anastrepha larvae: Spondias purpurea L., S. mombin L., Tapirira mexicana Marchand, Mangifera indica L. (all Anacardiaceae), Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae), Citrus sinensis L. and Casimiroa edulis Llave & Lex. (Rutaceae), Psidium guajava L., P. sartorianum (Berg.), P. guineense Sw., Syzygium jambos L., Myrciaria floribunda (West) O. Berg. (all Myrtaceae), Chrysophyllum mexicanum (Brandegce) ex. Standley and Calocarpum mammosum L. (Sapotaceae), and Passiflora foetida L. (Passifloraceae). Of these, only C. mexicanum, C. edulis, and P. foetida did not harbor parasitoids. We identified 10 native and exotic larval–pupal parasitoid species (all Hymenoptera): Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), D. crawfordi (Viereck), Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae (Viereck), and Opius hirtus (Fisher) (all Braconidae), Aganaspis pellenaroi (Brethes) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier (Eucoilidae) (all native species), and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) and Aceratoneuromyia indica (Silvestri) (Braconidae and Eulophidae, respectively; both exotic species). We also identified two pupal parasitoids: Coptera haywardi (Ogloblin) (Diapriidae; native) and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Pteromalidae; exotic). Parasitization levels ranged between 0.4 and 83.8%. Native, wild plants harbored significantly more parasitoids per fruit than cultivated ones. Interestingly, in P. guajava 2 fly species and 5 parasitoid species were once identified in a single fruit. We found a negative correlation between fruit size and number of parasitoids/fruit. We rank parasitoids based on host breadth (fruit fly species attacked) and number of plant species visited. We discuss some general ecological and practical implications of our findings (e.g., effect of fruit size on parasitism, mass-rearing, and augmentative releases of native vs exotic parasitoids) and compare our findings with previous surveys carried out in Mexico and in Central and South America. We also discuss the need to protect native vegetation because of the important role such vegetation plays as reservoirs of fruit fly parasitoids.