Spatial and temporal dispersion of Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in orchards infested with Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Abstract Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) is an endoparasitoid and promising fruit fly control agent. The objective of the study was to determine the spatial (horizontal and vertical) and temporal dispersion of D. areolatus in the field. To evaluate the horizontal and temporal dispersion, two peach orchards were selected. In each orchard, 50 points were marked at different distances from the central point, from where 4,100 couples of D. areolatus were released. Four hours after release, parasitism units (PU) (3 per point) were fixed to the trees at a height of 1.5 m from the ground. The PUs were composed of ripe apples artificially infested with second instar larvae of Anastrepha fraterculus (30 larvae/fruit). For the evaluation of vertical dispersion, in an olive orchard six points were selected (trees of ≈4 m in height). Each tree was divided into three heights in relation to the ground (1.17, 2.34, and 3.51 m). Doryctobracon areolatus was able to disperse horizontally at a distance >60 m from the release point. However, the highest parasitism rates [15–45% (area 1); 15–27% (area 2)] were observed up to 25 m. Higher percentages of parasitism and of recovered offspring occur in the first days after the release of the parasitoid (2 DAR). As for vertical dispersion, D. areolatus parasitized A. fraterculus larvae up to the highest attachment height of the evaluated PUs (3.51). The results showed the potential use of D. areolatus in the management of fruit flies in the field.