Parasitism behavior of three species of Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) fruit fly parasitoids (Diptera) in Brazil

Abstract

Eucoilinae are larval endoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphous dipterous. Several species have been associated with frugivorous larvae (Tephritidae, Lonchaeidae and Drosophilidae). Some species of these dipterous cause serious damage to fruit crops. In order to minimize their damage, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) using biological control with hymenopteran parasitoids has been used. Studies on parasitism behavior can maximize the use of parasitoids in biological control programs. Thus, this paper had as objectives (1) to study the olfactory response of Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) and Dicerataspis grenadensis Ashmead to the volatile emitted by guava infested with fruit fly larvae and (2) to verify the behavioral sequence of location and evaluation of hosts by A. pelleranoi, D. grenadensis and Odontosema albinerve Kieffer in laboratory and in field conditions. Experiments in a four-armed airflow olfactometer showed that A. pelleranoi and D. grenadensis were more attracted to volatiles of fruits infested with frugivorous larvae. The behavioral sequence of Eucoilinae, in ripe guava pulp infested by frugivorous larvae, showed that A. pelleranoi and O. albinerve located the host larvae by vibrotaxis and D. grenadensis found the host larvae with the ovipositor. These results established that D. grenadensis showed specificity to larvae of the family Drosophilidae in rotting guava.