In and Out of Africa: Parasitoids Used for Biological Control of Fruit Flies

Abstract

This chapter is a demonstration of the wealth of African natural resources and their contribution to biological control of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). Africa is the native region of more than 900 species of fruit flies, many of which are significant agricultural pests. Highly diverse assemblages of indigenous hymenopteran parasitoid species have evolved with these fruit flies, which makes Africa a valuable source of parasitoids for use in classical biological control of fruit flies around the world. Interest in the use of parasitoids for biological control has recently increased due to advances in mass rearing techniques for exotic and native parasitoid species alongside the need to reduce synthetic insecticide use. Here we review the diversity of indigenous African parasitoid species and their role in classical biological control of fruit flies in other parts of the world; we also discuss their contribution to the management of native fruit flies in Africa. Likewise, the prospects and potential for using exotic parasitoids for management of newly-established invasive fruit flies in Africa is discussed, particularly for Batrocera zonata (Saunders), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett). We cover the introduction and spread of exotic parasitoid species released in Africa for biological control of invasive fruit flies. The rich diversity of indigenous parasitoids of African fruit flies continues to be unraveled as more new species are discovered and recognized as potential biological control agents for fruit fly management.