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Pre-selection and biological potential of the egg parasitoid Anaphes inexpectatus for the control of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis

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Abstract

The Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis (Marelli), causes severe damage to eucalypt plantations in several countries, despite the presence of the parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Girault). Climate and/or host–parasitoid mismatch may explain A. nitens shortcomings in some areas in Portugal, Spain, Chile, South Africa, or Australia. Because additional parasitoids may be needed to achieve reliable control of this pest, Anaphes inexpectatus Huber and Prinsloo, retrieved from field surveys conducted in Tasmania (the pest’s native habitat), was selected for pre-release studies in Portugal. Life history traits of A. inexpectatus and A. nitens were compared at six temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C), including development times, thermal constants, viability, parasitism, and behaviour. Temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 °C were adequate for development, while at 25 and 30 °C, deleterious effects of temperature were detected, particularly in A. nitens. Development thresholds were similar for A. inexpectatus and A. nitens (6.0 and 5.4 °C, respectively), but A. nitens needed 313 degree-days to complete development, while A. inexpectatus needed 263 degree-days. Globally, A. nitens produced more progeny, parasitised more eggs, and lived longer than A. inexpectatus. Net reproductive rates were higher for A. inexpectatus at lower temperatures (10 and 15 °C), and higher for A. nitens at moderate temperatures (20 and 25 °C). In addition, A. inexpectatus evidenced higher tolerance to the highest temperature tested (30 °C). Anaphes inexpectatus is likely to establish under field conditions and may enhance parasitism of G. platensis.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Gabriel Dehon, Cristina Marques, Clara Araújo, and Luís Leal for their contribution to develop the present work, and David De Little and Jane Elek for their support during parasitoid collection. We thank Andreia Padrela, Inês Silva, and Sofia Simões for their assistance in laboratory trials. We are indebted to John Huber (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada), John LaSalle (CSIRO, Australia), Andrew Polaszek (NHM, United Kingdom), Alex Gumovsky (Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Ukraine), Lubomír Masner (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada), Bryan Cantrell (Queensland Museum, Australia), and Rolf Oberprieler (CSIRO, Australia) for kindly providing specimen identification. We would also like to thank four anonymous reviewers for valuable comments on the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by The Navigator Company and Altri Florestal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RAIZ - Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel, Quinta de São Francisco, Apartado 15, 3801-501, Eixo-Aveiro, Portugal

    Carlos Valente & Catarina I. Gonçalves

  2. Altri Florestal, S.A., Quinta do Furadouro, 2510-582, Olho Marinho, Portugal

    Ana Reis

  3. Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Manuela Branco

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  1. Carlos Valente
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  2. Catarina I. Gonçalves
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Correspondence to Carlos Valente.

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Communicated by C. Stauffer.

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Valente, C., Gonçalves, C.I., Reis, A. et al. Pre-selection and biological potential of the egg parasitoid Anaphes inexpectatus for the control of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus platensis . J Pest Sci 90, 911–923 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-017-0839-y

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