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Agathis bishopi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a Potential Tool for Detecting Oranges Infested with Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

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Abstract

In South Africa, Thaumatotibia leucotreta is a key pest of citrus impacting its production and trade. Detection of newly infested fruit by visual inspection is challenging and poses a risk of packing infested with healthy fruit for export. Agathis bishopi is a larval endoparasitoid of T. leucotreta, attacking early larval instars. Understanding how A. bishopi parasitoids locate fruit infested with their host is of interest for developing an efficient detector for T. leucotreta infested fruit. The response of female adult A. bishopi parasitoids to olfactory and visual cues associated with T. leucotreta infested fruit were evaluated using a Y-tube olfactometer and flight tunnel. Agathis bishopi parasitoids were strongly attracted to infested fruit over healthy fruit, either when only olfactory or combinations of visual and olfactory cues were offered. Among the four synthetic compounds tested, D-limonene and ocimene elicited a strong attraction to parasitoids with response rates of 92 % and 72 % respectively. A blend of four synthetic compounds simulating T. leucotreta infested fruit odour equally elicited strong attraction to parasitoids (84 % response rate). Attraction of parasitoids to infested fruit cues was heightened by prior experience, suggesting the occurrence of associative learning. Results from this study indicate that A. bishopi parasitoids mainly rely on olfactory cues in host habitat location and that D-limonene and ocimene are the major attractants in infested fruit volatiles. These findings and the potential for manipulating A. bishopi for detection of infested fruit in the packhouse are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors extend their gratitude to Citrus Research International (CRI), the NRF, South Africa Research Chair Initiative in Applied Entomology at Rhodes University and Maastricht University for financial assistance towards this work. Technical help from Wayne Kirkman (CRI), John Opoku-Debrah (CRI), Tanya Pretorius (Rhodes University), Mellissa Peyper (Rhodes University) and Craig Chambers (River Bioscience) is greatly appreciated. The helpful comments by the anonymous reviewers are greatly appreciated. Authors further express their appreciation to the farmers in the Sundays River Valley (Eastern Cape Province, South Africa) for providing fruit for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Kennedy Zimba, Martin P. Hill, Sean D. Moore & Unathi Heshula

  2. Citrus Research International, P.O.Box 20285, Humewood 6031, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Sean D. Moore

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  1. Kennedy Zimba
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  2. Martin P. Hill
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  4. Unathi Heshula
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Correspondence to Kennedy Zimba.

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Insects used in this study were collected according to the guidelines as stipulated in the permit: CRO 12/14CR and CRO 13/14CR from the Department of Economic Development, Environmental affairs and Tourism, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

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We declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest in this work.

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Zimba, K., Hill, M.P., Moore, S.D. et al. Agathis bishopi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a Potential Tool for Detecting Oranges Infested with Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). J Insect Behav 28, 618–633 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9526-0

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