Abstract
ABSTRACT. Introduction: Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Smith. (Annonaceae) (syn. Annona diversifolia Saff.) is a valued fruit tree species known as papausa. In Mexico and Central America, this fruit has become an important crop because of its tasty flavor and high pulp content. Its fruits are frequently damaged by the incidence of wasps of the genus Bephratelloides Girault (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), which develop inside the seeds. Objective: to report the interaction of Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead during its life cycle in fruits of A. macroprophyllata. Methods: We periodically collected fruits in different states of growth recording a) oviposition, b) the moment of evident infection, c) the development of the wasps inside the seeds, and d) their emergence as adults. We also determined the proportion of damaged fruits and seeds. Results: The data indicate that wasps preferred to oviposit on fruits with a diameter of less than 8 cm, oviposition was more frequent between 11:00 am and 03:00 pm., and there was 26 % infestation of fruits, and 9 % of seeds. Conclusion: It is an obligatory interaction for the wasp, the highest proportion of attack on fruits was in the early stages of fruit development and control actions should focus on the protection of these early stages.
Highlights
Bephratelloides cubensis has been reported as a frequent parasite in Annona muricata, A. reticulata, A. squamosa, A. reticulata, A. cherimola, A. glabra, A. montana and A. bullata
The presence of B. cubensis in A. macroprophyllata has been reported in some areas of Guerrero and Morelos (Castañeda-Vildózola et al, 2010), but in Chiapas there is only one formal report (DuránRuiz et al, 2019)
The morphometry, and the external appearance of the infested and the healthy seeds were statistically similar during the immature stages of the insect
Summary
Its fruits are frequently damaged by the incidence of wasps of the genus Bephratelloides Girault (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), which develop inside the seeds. Objective: to report the interaction of Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead during its life cycle in fruits of A. macroprophyllata. Methods: We periodically collected fruits in different states of growth recording a) oviposition, b) the moment of evident infection, c) the development of the wasps inside the seeds, and d) their emergence as adults. We determined the proportion of damaged fruits and seeds. Conclusion: It is an obligatory interaction for the wasp, the highest proportion of attack on fruits was in the early stages of fruit development and control actions should focus on the protection of these early stages
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