Successful acclimatization of Psyttalia fletcheri (Braconidae : Opiinae) for biological control of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera : Tephritidae), on Reunion Island

Since its introduction to Réunion Island probably more than 40 years ago, the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), has become one of the most serious pests attacking Cucurbitaceae crops on the island. In 1995, a biological control programme was initiated by CIRAD in collaboration with USDA Hawaii and the University of Hawaii to try and introduce the melon fly parasitoid, Psyttalia fletcheri (Silvestri), from Hawaii, in order to improve the natural control of melon fly populations in areas with wild cucurbits. A laboratory colony was developed and more than 195 000 adult parasitoids of both sexes were released from 1995 to 1997. P. fletcheri was first recovered in 1996 from five different sites. From 1996 to 2001, P. fletcheri was recovered from 12 sites situated all around the island. All collections were from only one host-fruit, the bitter gourd Momordica charantia L. Parasitism rates were highly variable, between 1 and 75%. From 1996 to 1998, recoveries were obtained from sites only where the parasitoid had been released. However, in 2001 P. fletcheri was recorded far from any release site, confirming its ability to disperse effectively. The parasitoid can now be considered to be acclimatized on Réunion Island and it will be useful to analyse the evolution of its parasitism rates over several years in order to assess its impact on populations of the local Dacini species, and particularly on populations of B. cucurbitae.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Quilici, Serge, Hurtrel, Béatrice, Messing, Russell H., Montagneux, B., Barbet, A., Gourdon, Frédéric, Malvotti, A., Simon, Aymeric
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Isteg Scientific Publications
Subjects:	H10 - Ravageurs des plantes, Cucumis melo, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Tephritidae, insecte nuisible, adaptation, parasitoïde, lutte biologique, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2003, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36020, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3122, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5729, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_117, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34070, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_918, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6543, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081,
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/524470/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/524470/1/document_524470.pdf
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