Influence of the host diet on the performance of Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

S Ongaratto,S D Nörnberg,K J Pinto,D E Nava,R Mânica-Berto,M S Garcia,R S Gonçalves

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.217968

Abstract

Fitness in parasitoids is generally influenced by host quality. We evaluated the development parameters of Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoid on Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae, reared in artificial diets with different protein sources. Larvae of A. fraterculus were reared in the diets based on 1) raw wheat germ (control); 2) whole rice flour; 3) corn flour; and, 4) whole wheat flour + soybean meal. The larvae were used for the development of D. areolatus, to evaluate the number of offspring/female, emergence rate, sex ratio, egg-adult period, adult weight posterior tibia length and longevity. Larvae of A. fraterculus reared in the diets based on wheat germ and corn flour obtained a greater number of offspring, with shorter duration of egg-adult period for males and females. In diets with rice flour and corn flour, A. fraterculus larvae generated adults of D. areolatus with greater weight, longer tibia length and higher sex ratio, whereas larvae reared in wheat flour + soybean meal diet had a lower sex ratio. The diets based on rice flour and corn are the most appropriate for multiplication of the parasitoid.

Highlights

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are one of the major problems for fruit-culture worldwide (Aluja and Mangan, 2008; Dias et al, 2018)
The results of this study have shown that the food ingested by host influences the biological parameters of D. areolatus
The diets based on corn flour and rice flour allowed a better performance of the parasitoid, both in pre-imaginal period and in adult life

Summary

Introduction

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are one of the major problems for fruit-culture worldwide (Aluja and Mangan, 2008; Dias et al, 2018). Its deficiency leads to a lower adult emergence rate and a smaller insect size, among other effects (Kaspi et al, 2002), which may influence the multiplication of the parasitoid, since the size and quality of the larvae is associated with the success of parasitism and the emergence of females (Van Nieuwenhove and Ovruski, 2011). Their fitness is strongly influenced by host traits, like the quantity and quality of the host’s nutrient resources (Godfray, 1994)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion