Lachers d'Opius concolor [Hym.: Braconidae] dans des populations de printemps deDacus oleae [Dipt.: Trypetidae]

Résumé

Un lâcher du braconideOpius concolor Szepl. a été effectué au printemps au cours de la première génération de multiplication de la mouche de l'oliveDacus oleae Gmel. dans l'oliveraie de Delphes. Il permet de constater que: le parasite s'installe normalement aux dépens des larves réceptives (troisième stade), il est apte à parasiter les larves deD. oleae présentes en haut et en bas de l'arbre, les pontes des femelles s'étalent sur deux semaines, le parasite est susceptible d'être hébergé par les pupes qui s'enfouissent dans le sol.

La mortalité larvaire naturelle due à des causes non parasitaires est importante, notamment dans les olives tombées au sol et dans celles de la partie basse et ombragée de l'arbre.

Summary

A release of the braconid parasitoidO. concolor Szepl. was made during spring (May) against the larval population of the olive fruit flyD. oleae Gmel. in a grove containing some trees which had heavily infested olive fruits which had overwintered. The parasitoid developed normally in the 3rd instar larvae of this population. Although it was present throughout the tree, during the 1st days it was more active in the upper part where 51% of receptive larvae were parasitized than in the lower where 18% were parasitized. After one week, these figures were 20% and 44% respectively. They have been calculated from counts ofDacus larvae containing either eggs or larvae.O. concolor had almost completely disappeared from the tree 2 weeks after the release because of fruit fall following high winds, although it was still possible to find both eggs and larvae in the appropriate host stages on the soil. The emergingO. concolor population was dominated by male adults, making up 74% of the numbers.

The natural mortality ofD. oleae larvae not induced by the parasite factor was important in the area, especially in the fruits fallen onto the soil in which 28% of young larvae and 14% of 3rd instar larvae died. Higher mortality occurred from these factors in the upper crown than in the lower: 16% of young larvae and 7% of 3rd instar larvae died in the former situation but 7% and 2% respectively in the latter. Almost no parasitism from indigenous parasites was recorded.