Abstract
Two species of Braconidae, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) and Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), commonly attack the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), in central Florida. There are temporal changes in the relative abundance of the 2 parasitoids, with a tendency for D. longicaudata to become more common as the fruiting periods of various host trees progress. An exception occurs when D. longicaudata declines relative to D. areolatus during the late-autumn and winter fruiting of the citrus fruit calamundin, χ Citrofortuella mitis J. Ingram & H. E. Moore. During the year there is a spring rise and then an autumn decline in the relative abundance of D. longicaudata . This pattern is not explained by any within-tree changes in fruit size or host larval densities. Many changes in relative abundance are consistent with D. areolatus being superior to D. longicaudata in finding host patches, but inferior at exploiting hosts (counter-balanced competition). Seasonal changes in maximum temperatures are also correlated to changes in the relative abundance of D. longicaudata to D. areolatus . It appears that the outcome of the competition between the 2 species is influenced by climatic conditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
