Impacts of low temperatures, storage durations and food attractants in the parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) and host Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science 2024-08, Vol.44 (4), p.2031-2037
• Main Authors: Sarwar, Muhammad, Rasool, Bilal, Ahmad, Nazir, Shah, Sayed Muhammad Masoom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; attractants; Bactrocera zonata; biological control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; cold storage; Entomology; fruit flies; honey; Hymenoptera; insect pests; integrated pest management; Life Sciences; Mangifera indica; mangoes; mass rearing; natural enemies; nutrition; orchards; Original Research Article; parasitoids; peaches; progeny; protein hydrolysates; pupae; storage time; sugars
• ISSN: 1742-7592; 1742-7592
• DOI: 10.1007/s42690-024-01314-5

Biological control is one of the primary tactics used in integrated pest management (IPM) for peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata . The pupal parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidae) is a potential alternative for controlling this insect pest. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different low temperatures on D. giffardii parasitoid emergence in association with B. zonata fruit fly during various storage durations. Additionally, the study assessed the efficacy of food attractants in preserving the natural enemy in a mango ( Mangifera indica L.) orchard. The results of the study showed that cold storage at 17.5 °C could significantly improve the rearing efficiency of the parasitoid. The short-term storage of D. giffardii within its B. zonata host for 1–2 weeks is effective in sustaining the parasitoid during mass rearing and releasing in a fruit fly control program. The study also tested the attractancy of D. giffardii to various food attractants, including honey, protein hydrolyzate, and Nu-lure separately, and honey plus sugar, protein hydrolyzate plus sugar, and Nu-lure plus sugar as bait combinations in a mango orchard. The results indicated that the spray of honey and sugar mixture could significantly contribute to the formation and conservation of the parasitoid. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that D. giffardii parasitoid can be successfully stored at 17.5 °C for 7 or 15 days, which can increase the rearing efficiency without affecting adult survival or progeny parameters. Food attractants can be potential sources of nutrition for adult parasitoids, aiding in the control plan of tephritid insect pests. This information is valuable in facilitating the mass-rearing of D. giffardii and using food attractants to improve the efficiency of the biological control program against B. zonata .