Side effects of toxic bait formulations on Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is considered one of the main biological control agents of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, the application of toxic baits for the management of C . capitata might exert side effects on the parasitoid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the side effects of toxic bait formulations on D . longicaudata . The food attractants Anamed, 3% Biofruit, 1.5% CeraTrap, 1.25% Flyral, 3% Isca Samaritá, 3% Isca Samaritá Tradicional, and 7% sugarcane molasses mixed with an organophosphate insecticide [malathion, 2.0 grams of active ingredient (g a.i.) L −1 ] and the commercial formulation Gelsura (2.0 and 4.0 g a.i. L −1 alpha-cypermethrin) showed high toxicity to D . longicaudata adults (>90% mortality) after 96 h and were thus classified as harmful (Class 4). Similarly, 3% Isca Samaritá Tradicional and 7% sugarcane molasses in formulations with the insecticides spinosad and spinetoram (0.096 g a.i. L −1 or kg) were moderately harmful (Class 3). In contrast, the food attractants Anamed, 3% Biofruit, 1.5% CeraTrap, 1.25% Flyral, and 3% Isca Samaritá Tradicional in combination with spinosad and spinetoram and the formulation Success 0.02CB (0.096 g a.i. L −1 spinosad) were classified as harmless (<10% mortality up to 96 h, Class 1). Additionally, these formulations did not reduce the parasitism and emergence rate of the F 1 generation of D . longicaudata in C . capitata larvae. Formulations of toxic baits based on spinosyn are suitable for the management of C . capitata together with the parasitoid D . longicaudata .

Effect of fruit fly protein bait on the red scale parasitoid, Aphytis lingnanensis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): attraction and toxicity

“…Similarly, in a braconid fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata , attraction to protein bait sprays was dependent on the type of protein bait formulation used (Bernardi et al . 2019). Attraction may therefore vary between closely related species as it might be a trait specific to a particular species rather that at the genus or family level (Asquith & Messing 1992).…”

“…In contrast, different fruit fly bait formulations, such as Anamed®, Biofruit® or Success 0.02 CB®, containing spinosad have been shown to vary in their toxicity when evaluated against fruit fly parasitoids such as D. longicaudata and F. arisanus (Bernardi et al . 2019; Farah et al . 2020), with some formulation being more toxic than others.…”

RNAi in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Successes and challenges

“…One possible alternative could be the delivery of dsRNA in artificial baits (Nandety et al., 2014), technique consisting in providing a food lure, such as sugarcane molasse and hydrolysed proteins (Schutze et al., 2018) to attract them and promote the ingestion of the chemical that causes mortality. Toxic baits are currently the most commonly used method to control Tephritidae populations, especially organophosphate‐based baits (Baldin et al., 2018; Bernardi et al., 2019). However, some baits, such as malathion‐based ones, may negatively affect non‐target organisms, like parasitoids (Michaud, 2003).…”

Toxicity assessment of common acaricides and mineral oils on Anagyrus vladimiri, an effective biocontrol agent of citrus mealybug

“…Farmers often apply pesticides without regard to pest abundance. This may help in suppressing pest populations, but can also have a direct negative impact on natural enemies (Wang et al 2012, Ghaderi et al 2013, Roubos et al 2014, Kaspi et al 2019) and contaminate their plant-based food sources (Desneux et al 2007, Bernardi et al 2019). Moreover, pesticides are harmful to the environment and human health (Van Maele-Fabry et al 2010, Tomer et al 2015), and many pest species can rapidly develop pesticide resistance (Tabashnik et al 2009).…”