Pioneer tree species as fruit flies parasitoids reservoir in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of the pioneer plant species Bellucia grossularioides (L.) Triana (Melastomataceae) to act as a reservoir for parasitoids of fruit flies in the Brazilian Amazon. We collected 48 samples of fruits (total of 4,012 fruits, 43.98 kg) during the months of July, August and September of 2013, in 15 of the 16 municipalities of Amapá State, Brazil. All samples showed infestation by fruit flies, with rates varying from 60.6 to 239.1 puparia/kg of fruit (mean of 106.8 puparia/kg of fruit). The percentage of emergence varied 18.6 to 64.3% (mean of 39.9%). Specimens of Anastrepha coronilli Carrejo & González (Diptera: Tephritidae) were obtained from all samples collected. Specimens of Neosilba (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) were obtained from five samples, where they were represented by Neosilba bella Strikis & Prado and Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann). The mean percentage of parasitism was 12.8%, varying 4.7 to 26.7%. Four species of parasitoids were obtained: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), Doryctobracon sp.2, Opius bellus Gahan (Braconidae) and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) (Figitidae). Doryctobracon areolatus, present in all municipalities sampled, was the most abundant species. Considering that B. grossularioides is a plant species that is abundant in the area sampled, its relevance with respect to the maintenance of the population of parasitoids is discussed in the context of the integrated management of fruit flies in the Amazon.

Natural parasitism in fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and interaction with wild hosts surrounding apple orchards adjacent to Atlantic Forest fragments in Paraná State, Brazil

“…The braconid D. areolatus, similar to A. pelleranoi, can develop in mild temperatures (17 to 25ºC), but they can withstand a higher temperature than A. pelleranoi (Souza-Filho et al, 2009;Silva et al, 2010;Adaime et al, 2018). The low temperatures at the altitude of 900 m in Paraná orchards could be better for A. pelleranoi.…”

“…In general, the diversity and abundance of parasitoids species are very sensitive to ecosystem disturbances, such as climate and phytosanitary events (Aluja et al, 2014;Adaime et al, 2018). Native species of parasitoids are particularly abundant in forests and non-commercial landscapes (Sivinski et al, 2006), and natural suppression of Atlantic Forest adjacent areas could increase the number of adult fruit flies available to move into the orchards, as shown by Aluja et al (2014) and Araujo et al (2019).…”

“…The majority of parasitoids associated with Tephritidae belong to the subfamilies Opiinae (Braconidae) and Eucoilinae (Figitidae) (Guimarães and Zucchi, 2004). In Brazil, several studies of Tephritidae fruit flies, hosts and parasitoids have been carried out in different locations with a diversity of habitat and climate conditions (Silva et al, 2010;Souza et al, 2012;Adaime et al, 2018). All these surveys showed that specimens of Braconidae and Figitidae have potential for use in biological control (Garcia and Corseuil, 2004;Nunes et al, 2012;Gonçalves et al, 2016).…”

Geissospermum argenteum (Angiosperma: Apocynaceae): a reservoir of parasitoids of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in an upland forest in the Brazilian Amazon

“…A number of studies have reported that many species of fruiting trees, often native, act as important reservoirs through which the parasitoids of pest tephritids are conserved, and that other fruiting trees not only conserve these parasitoids, but may also aid in their multiplication (Hernández-Ortiz et al, 1994;López et al, 1999;Sivinski et al, 2000;Aluja et al, 2003Adaime et al, 2018b). Aluja (1999) emphasizes the importance of wild plants and suggests that, in regions where few resources are available to growers, fruit flies could be managed via the preservation of parasitoid habitats and by artificially multiplying certain parasitoid reservoirs, as well as tree species that promote and multiply biodiversity.…”

“…Considering the arguments of Aluja et al (2014) and the findings of our work, we can consider G. argenteum as a reservoir of fruit fly parasitoids (category 2). Adaime et al (2018b) studied the pioneer species Bellucia grossularioides (L.) Triana (Melastomataceae) in various municipalities of the state of Amapá. All samples of fruit were infested by Anastrepha coronilli Carrejo & González, a species that is not an agricultural pest, with a mean infestation of 106.8 puparia/kg of fruit.…”