Colonization and domestication of seven species of native New World hymenopterous larval-prepupal and pupal fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids

Abstract

We describe the techniques used to colonize and domesticate seven native New World species of hymenopterous parasitoids that attack flies within the genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae). All parasitoid species successfully developed on artificially reared Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) larvae or pupae. The parasitoid species colonized were the following: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), Doryctobracon crawfordi (Viereck), Opius hirtus (Fischer), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (all Braconidae, Opiinae), Aganaspis pelleranoi (Bréthes) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier (both Figitidae, Eucoilinae) (all larval-pupal parasitoids), and the pupal parasitoid Coptera haywardi (Ogloblin) (Diapriidae, Diapriinae). We provide detailed descriptions of the different rearing techniques used throughout the domestication process to help researchers elsewhere to colonize local parasitoids. We also describe handling procedures such as number of hosts in parasitization units and compare optimal host and female age, differences in parasitism rate, developmental time, life expectancy and variation in sex ratios in each parasitoid species over various generations. In the case of D. crawfordi and C. haywardi we also provide partial information on mass-rearing techniques such as cage type, parasitization unit, larval irradiation dose and adult handling.