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Effect of continuous rearing on courtship acoustics of five braconid parasitoids, candidates for augmentative biological control of Anastrepha species

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Abstract

The courtship acoustics of five species of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), potential candidates for augmentative biological control of Anastrepha (Schiner) species (Diptera: Tephritidae), were compared between recently colonized individuals and those continuously reared 70–148 generations. During courtship, males of these parasitoid species fan their wings and produce a series of low amplitude pulses. The first series of 15 or more continuous courtship pulses was used to measure the pulse duration, frequency, and interpulse interval (IPI) from the beginning, middle, and end of the pulse series. Each parameter was compared between young and old colonies, and among species. Several differences in courtship acoustics were detected in colonies that had been continuously reared. The pulse duration at the end of the pulse series was longer in old colonies for Doryctobracon crawfordi (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), but shorter for old colonies of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The IPI of the middle pulse was shorter in old colonies of Opius hirtus (Fischer) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and was also shorter at the last pulse for old colonies of both Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and D. longicaudata. The duration of the middle pulse distinguished the three native species, and separated the two introduced species from each other. We discuss our findings in light of their biological and applied implications, particularly those dealing with quality control of mass-reared parasitoids.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sandy Méndez Trejo, Cecilia Martínez Arcos, Jovita Martínez Tlapa and Guadalupe Córdova for preparing parasitoid wasps for recording trials and rearing A. ludens. LaKeisha Shaw and Stephanie Vidauri at Texas A&M University assisted with courtship acoustics measurements. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by grants to MA by the Mexican Campaña Nacional Contra Moscas de la Fruta (Convenio IICA-INECOL), by the Texas A&M—CONACyT (Mexican Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) program (Improving Ecologically Based Pest Management of Anastrepha Fruit Flies), and CONACyT Grant 46846—Q. Additional funds and equipment were provided by the US Department of Agriculture (ARS-USDA funds managed by JS), the Mexican Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad—CONABIO (Grant No. H296) and the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Ricardo Ramírez-Romero was funded by a Postdoctoral Fellowship furnished by the Instituto de Ecología, A.C.

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  1. Ricardo Ramirez-Romero

    Present address: Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, MS 2475, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Andrea L. Joyce, S. Bradleigh Vinson & Julio S. Bernal

  2. Instítuto de Ecologia, A.C., Apartado Postal 63, 91000, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Martin Aluja, Ricardo Ramirez-Romero & Larissa Guillen

  3. Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, USDA-ARS, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, FL, 32604, USA

    John Sivinski

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  1. Andrea L. Joyce
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Correspondence to Andrea L. Joyce.

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Joyce, A.L., Aluja, M., Sivinski, J. et al. Effect of continuous rearing on courtship acoustics of five braconid parasitoids, candidates for augmentative biological control of Anastrepha species. BioControl 55, 573–582 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9278-x

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