Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fopius arisanus oviposition in four Anastrepha fruit fly species of economic importance in Mexico

  • Published:
BioControl Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We studied the oviposition performance of Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking eggs of four fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) under laboratory conditions. The complete process of oviposition on an individual egg of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) lasts in average 85.4 ± 2.9 s, including a tremor (25.8 ± 1.03 s) observed in the middle of this process related to the egg’s descent. The average parasitism of A. ludens egg was 60.9 ± 7.5%, with only 1.2% of superparasitized eggs. During individual acts of oviposition, we noted that F. arisanus possesses a highly flexible ovipositor that curves easily as it searches for additional suitable eggs, which may be of particular benefit when a female finds large clutches of eggs. The individual oviposition of F. arisanus in host fruits attacked by Anastrepha spp. varies with the egg clutch size of each fruit fly species: A. serpentina laid the biggest egg clutches (21.3 ± 1.4), followed by A. ludens (14.2 ± 0.9), and A. striata (1.0 ± 0.0) (=A. obliqua). The time spent by F. arisanus in individual ovipositions was parallel to these findings, reinforcing the idea that F. arisanus attacks several eggs in each individual insertion of its ovipositor. Neither formal oviposition acts, nor adult emergences of F. arisanus were registered in A. obliqua. We discuss the potential of F. arisanus as natural enemy of fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha, and explore the eventual developing of its mass rearing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bautista RC, Mochizuki N, Spencer JP, Harris EJ, Ichimura DM (1999) Mass-rearing of the tephritid fruit fly parasitoid Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Biol Control 15:137–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bess HA, van den Bosch R, Haramoto F (1961) Fruit fly parasites and their activities in Hawaii. Proc Hawaii Entomol Soc 17:367–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmichael AE, Wharton RA, Clarke AR (2005) Opiine parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of tropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the Australian and south pacific region. Bull Entomol Res 95:545–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clausen C, Clancy DW, Chock QC (1965) Biological control of the oriental fruit fly (Dacus dorsalis Hendel) and the other fruit flies in Hawaii. USDA Technical Bull 1322. USDA Pubs, Washington, DC, p 103

  • Dobson AJ (1990) An introduction to generalized linear models. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez J, Castellanos D, Moreno P (1997) Métodos de cría masiva de moscas de la fruta In: Memorias del Curso Regional sobre Moscas de la Fruta y su Control. en Áreas Grandes con Énfasis en la Técnica del Insecto Estéril. Programa Moscamed DGSV-SAGAR/OIEA-FAO. Metapa de Dominguez, Chiapas, México

  • Harris EJ, Bautista RC (1996) Effects of fruit fly host, fruit species, and host egg to female parasitoid ratio on the laboratory rearing of Biosteres arisanus. Entomol Exp Appl 79:187–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris EJ, Okamoto RY (1991) A method for rearing Biosteres arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the laboratory. J Econ Entomol 84:417–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Ortiz V, Aluja M (1993) Listado de especies del genero neotropical Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) con notas sobre su distribucion y trampas hospederas. Folia Entomol Mex 88:89–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt RD, Hochberg ME (1997) When is biological control evolutionarily stable (or is it?). Ecology 78:1673–1683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence PO, Harris EJ, Bautista RC (2000) Development and reproductive biology of the egg-pupal parasite, Fopius arisanus in Anastrepha suspensa, a new tephritid host. In: Tan KH (ed) Area-wide control of fruit flies and other insect pests. Universiti Sains, Penang, pp 739–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Moretti R, Calvitti M (2003) Mortality by parasitization in the association between the egg-pupal parasitoid Fopius arisanus and Ceratitis capitata. BioControl 48:275–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quimio GH, Walter GH (2001) Host preference and host suitability in an egg-pupal fruit-fly parasitoid, Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). J Appl Entomol 125:135–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousse P, Harris EJ, Quilici S (2005) Fopius arisanus, an egg-pupal parasitoid of Tephritidae. Overview. Biocontrol News Info 26:59–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousse P, Gourdon F, Quilici S (2006) Host specificity of the egg pupal parasitoid Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in La Reunion. Biol Control 37:284–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousse P, Chiroleu F, Veslot J, Quilici S (2007) The host and microhabitat olfactory location by Fopius arisanus suggest a broad potential host range. Physiol Entomol 32:313–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2003) JMP statistical discovery software, version 5.0.1. SAS Institute Inc., Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • Vargas RI, Miyashita D, Nishida T (1984) Life history and demographic parameters of three laboratory-reared tephritids (Diptera: Tephritidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 77:651–656

    Google Scholar 

  • Vargas RI, Stark JD, Uchida GK, Purcel M (1993) Opiine parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of the oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Kauai Island, Hawaii: their relative abundance and parasitism rates in wild and orchard guava habitats. Environ Entomol 22:246–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Vargas RI, Peck SL, McQuate GT, Jackson CG, Stark JD, Armstrong JW (2001) Potential for areawide integrated management of mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a braconid parasitoid and a novel bait spray. J Econ Entomol 94:817–825

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vargas RI, Leblanc L, Putoa R, Eitam A (2007) Impact of introduction of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) and classical biological control releases of Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on economically important fruit flies in french polynesia. J Econ Entomol 100:670–679

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Messing R (2003) Foraging behavior and patch time allocation by Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an egg-larval parasitoid of tephritid fruit flies. J Insect Behav 16:593–612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wharton RA, Gilstrap FE (1983) Key to and status of Opinae braconids (Hymenoptera) parasitoids used in biological control of Ceratitis and Dacus s.l. (Diptera: Tephritidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 76:721–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Wharton RA, Gilstrap FE, Rhode RH, Fischel M, Hart WG (1981) Hymenopterous egg-pupal and larval-pupal parasitoids of Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Costa Rica. Entomophaga 26:285–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong TTY, Ramadan MM (1992) Mass-rearing biology of larval parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii. In: Anderson TE, Leppla NC (eds) Advances in insect rearing for research and pest management. Westview, Boulder, pp 405–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong TTY, Mochizuki N, Nishimoto JL (1984) Seasonal abundance of parasitoids of mediterranean and oriental fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kula area of Maui, Hawaii. Environ Entomol 13:140–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong TTY, Ramadan MM, Herr JC, McInnis DO (1992) Suppression of a mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera:Tephritidae) population with concurrent parasitoid and sterile fly release in Kula, Maui, Hawaii. J Econ Entomol 85:1671–1681

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenil M, Liedo P, Williams T, Valle J, Cancino J, Montoya P (2004) Reproductive biology of Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae). Biol Control 29:169–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors particularly thank Dr. Juan F. Barrera (ECOSUR), Dr. Trevor Williams (INECOL) and two anonymous reviewers for helpful review of this manuscript. We also appreciate the statistical assistance by Javier Valle-Mora (ECOSUR). We thank Mario Pineda and Lia Ruiz for their technical assistance, along with J. Dominguez (Moscafrut facility) for providing the A. ludens eggs. This study was partially supported by CONACYT—COCYTECH, project CHIS-2005C03-012.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa Moscamed Moscafrut SAGARPA – IICA, Av. Central Poniente 14, Col. Centro, Tapachula, Chiapas, 30700, Mexico

    Pablo Montoya, Florida López & Jorge Cancino

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Campus IV, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

    Alfonso Suárez

Authors
  1. Pablo Montoya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alfonso Suárez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Florida López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jorge Cancino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pablo Montoya.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Torsten Meiners.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Montoya, P., Suárez, A., López, F. et al. Fopius arisanus oviposition in four Anastrepha fruit fly species of economic importance in Mexico. BioControl 54, 437–444 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9193-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9193-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation