Parasitoid diversity (Hymenoptera: Braconidae and Figitidae) on frugivorous larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) at Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Central Amazon Region, Manaus, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to identify parasitoid species of frugivorous larvae and to describe the tritrophic interactions involving wild fruits, frugivorous insects and their natural enemies at Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve (RFAD) (Manaus, AM, Brazil). Collections were performed in four 1 km 2 quadrants in the corners of the RFAD. The wild fruits were collected inside the forest in access trails leading to each collection area and in trails that surrounded the quadrants, up to five metres from the trail on each side. The fruits were placed in plastic containers covered with thin fabric, with a vermiculite layer on the base to allow the emergence of flies or parasitoids. Seven Braconidae species were collected, distributed among Opiinae: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti, 1911), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck, 1913), and Opius sp., and Alysiinae: Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck, 1958), Phaenocarpa pericarpa Carrejo, 1999, Idiasta delicata Papp, 1969, and Asobara sp. Parasitism rates by braconids and figitids are presented. Doryctobracon areolatus was the most frequent, parasitizing the highest number of fly species, and showing the highest parasitism percentage in larvae feeding on Micropholis williamii fruits. The collected figitids belong to Aganaspis nordlanderi Wharton, 1998 and A. pelleranoi (Brethes, 1924). All 15 tritrophic associations are new records for the Brazilian Amazon region. The RFAD is an important natural reservoir of frugivorous larvae parasitoids.Keywords: fruit fly, parasitoids, forest reserve, native fruit, Amazon. Diversidade de Parasitóides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae e Figitidae) de larvas frugívoras (Diptera: Tephritidae e Lonchaeidae) na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Amazônia Ocidental, Manaus, Brasil ResumoEste trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as espécies de parasitóides de larvas frugívoras e descrever as interações tritróficas desses inimigos naturais com seus insetos hospedeiros e frutos silvestres da Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke (RFAD). As coletas foram realizadas em quatro quadrantes de 1 km 2 , ocupando áreas próximas aos cantos da RFAD. Os frutos silvestres foram coletados no interior da floresta nas trilhas de acesso a cada área de coleta e nas trilhas que delimitavam os quadrantes, até cinco metros em cada lado. Os frutos foram acondicionados em recipientes plásticos, cobertos com tecido fino, contendo camada de vermiculita, para obtenção das moscas ou dos parasitóides, que eram individualizados, contados, sexados e fixados em álcool 70%. As taxas de parasitismo por braconídeos e figitídeos são apresentadas. Foram coletadas sete espécies de Braconidae, distribuídas em Opiinae: Doryctobracon areolatus

Wild Hosts of Frugivorous Dipterans (Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) and Associated Parasitoids in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Our results indicate that the wild host plants Spondias mombin L. and B. grossularioides play an important role as reservoirs of native parasitoids. Similar results were obtained in other studies in the Brazilian Amazon (Costa et al 2009;Ronchi-Teles et al 2011;Dutra et al 2013) and other forested areas (López et al 1999;Aluja et al 2003). …”

Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and their parasitoids on cultivated and wild hosts in the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

“…Due to the frequency, abundance and capacity to parasitize fruit fly larvae in native and exotic fruits, this parasitoid species shows promise for integration in biological control programs of fruit flies in agroecosystems (Nunes et al 2011;Uchôa 2012). The low abundance of U. anastrephae and Opius bellus is common in other studies conducted in Brazil (Uchôa-Fernandes et al 2003a;Lima Junior et al 2007;Costa et al 2009). …”

Native Larval Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of Frugivorous Tephritoidea (Diptera) in South Pantanal Region, Brazil

“…The rate of parasitism is affected by factors, such as the host larvae of the tephritoid species, traits of host fruit species, and the environment. Frugivorous larvae attacking a relatively small fruit, with a thin pericarp and mesocarp, have higher probabilities of being parasitized by parasitoids, in comparison to larvae colonizing fruit with a thicker epicarp and mesocarp (Sivinski et al 1997;Uchôa et al 2003;Costa et al 2009). …”