Abstract
Abstract: Fruit flies are among the main groups of phytophagous insects. Their larvae, when feeding on the pulp or seeds of the host fruits, can cause rot and favor the entrance of pathogens. Thus, the objectives of this study was: (1) To know the trophic associations between species of parasitoids and fruit flies in the Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena (PNSB)-MS, Brazil. (2) To inventory the parasitoid species associated with fruit flies in fruit trees in the Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena. Monthly expeditions were carried out (From Jan 2017 to Feb 2018) in order to collect the fruits and obtain the fruit flies (Tephritidae) and their respective parasitoids. The collected fruits were transported to the laboratory of frugivorous insects (LIF) of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD)-MS. The fruit fly larvae were daily collected and placed in transparent acrylic cups containing sterilized sand, where they remained till the emergence of adults and their parasitoids. Twenty-Three adult Tephritid parasitoids were recovered, represented by two species of Braconidae: Doryctobracon areolatus (18) and Utetes anastrephae (5), both infesting Anastrepha species: Anastrepha fraterculus, A. sororcula and A. striata in Myrtaceae: Psidium guajava and Eugenia myrcianthes. Doryctobracon areolatus and Utetes anastrephae are reported for the first time parasiting Anastrepha species in Eugenia myrcianthes.
Highlights
Fruit flies are among the main groups of phytophagous insects
The objectives of this research were: To know the trophic associations between the parasitoid species and fruit flies in the Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena (PNSB), Brazil; To inventory the parasitoid species associated with fruit flies in fruit trees in the PNSB
Twenty-three adult parasitoids were recovered from the tephritid larvae, represented by two Braconidae species: Doryctobracon areolatus (18) and Utetes anastrephae (5), both infesting Anastrepha species: Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedmann), A. sororcula Zucchi and A striata Schiner in Myrtaceae: Psidium guajava L. and Eugenia myrcianthes (Nied). (Table 1)
Summary
Natural fruit fly enemies such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, predators, parasites and parasitoids are important biotic agents of mortality They are usually present in natural environments and can be handled in labs or biofactories and employed in integrated management programs for species with pest status on vegetables and fruit trees (Stibicky 2004). The hymenoptera parasitoids, mainly Braconidae, Figitidae and Pteromalidae, are considered the main regulators of fruit fly populations in the Neotropical region (Uchoa 2012). Researches on these trophic interactions have been intensified since the 1970, with advances in scientific investigations on ecology (Cappuccino 1995) and the natural history of fruit fly natural enemies
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