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Thermal requirements of Fidiobia dominica (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Haeckeliania sperata (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), two exotic egg parasitoids of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

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Abstract

Diaprepes abbreviatus is an exotic root weevil occurring in southern US. It is a highly polyphagous species which can complete its entire life cycle on citrus and several woody ornamental plants. The lack of native egg parasitoids for this weevil in citrus orchards has triggered efforts to evaluate candidate egg parasitoids from the Caribbean Region into Florida. The egg parasitoids Fidiobia dominica and Haeckeliania sperata are two exotic natural enemies of D. abbreviatus recently introduced in the US in a classical biological control program. The thermal requirements of both parasitoids were studied in the laboratory. The upper development threshold (UDT) of F. dominica was 30.0°C, its maximal development rate (MDR) occurred at 27.6°C, its lower development threshold (LDT) was 9.6°C and its thermal constant (K) for development from egg to adult was 293.1 DD. For H. sperata, UDT was 35.0°C, MDR occurred at 31.0°C, LDT was around 15°C and K was 188.1 DD. Based on these results, both species would be able to complete 17 to 18 generations annually in southern Florida. However, host availability during critical periods could severely impair the ability of these egg parasitoids to establish and successfully control D. abbreviatus in areas where winter temperatures fluctuate around 12°C, the LDT for this pest.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to A. Urbaneja (Institut Valencià d’Investigacions Agràries, Spain), J. Capinera (University of Florida) and S. Lapointe (USDA, ARS) for critical review of the manuscript. Special thanks are extended to J. Alegría, Z. Alegría, and D. Long (UF-TREC) for providing technical assistance throughout the investigation. Research was supported by UF-IFAS, USDA, CSREES, and TSTAR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Ciències Agràries i del Medi Natural, Universitat Jaume I, Campus del Riu Sec, 12071, Castello de la Plana, Spain

    Josep A. Jacas

  2. Department of Entomology and Nematology, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280th Street, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Jorge E. Peña, Rita E. Duncan & Bryan J. Ulmer

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  1. Josep A. Jacas
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  2. Jorge E. Peña
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  4. Bryan J. Ulmer
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Correspondence to Josep A. Jacas.

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Jacas, J.A., Peña, J.E., Duncan, R.E. et al. Thermal requirements of Fidiobia dominica (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Haeckeliania sperata (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), two exotic egg parasitoids of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). BioControl 53, 451–460 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-007-9082-4

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