Diachasmimorpha kraussii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae) is a koinobiont larval parasitoid of dacine fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) in its native range (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands). The wasp is a potentially important control agent for pest fruit flies, having been considered for both classical and inundative biological control releases. I investigated the host searching, selection and utilisation mechanisms of the wasp against native host flies within its native range (Australia). Such studies are rare in opiine research where the majority of studies, because of the applied nature of the research, have been carried out using host flies and environments which are novel to the wasps. Diachasmimorpha kraussii oviposited equally into maggots of four fruit fly species, all of which coexist with the wasp in its native range (Australia), when tested in a choice trial using a uniform artificial diet media. While eggs laid into Bactrocera tryoni and B. jarvisi developed successfully through to adult wasps, eggs laid into B. cucumis and B. cacuminata were encapsulated. These results suggest that direct larval cues are not an important element in host selection by D. kraussii. Further exploring how D. kraussii locates suitable host larvae, I investigated the role of plant cues in host searching and selection. This was examined in a laboratory choice trial using uninfested fruit or fruit infested with either B. tryoni or B. jarvisi maggots. The results showed a consistent preference ranking among infested fruits by the wasp, with guava and peach most preferred, but with no response to uninfested fruits. Thus, it appears the wasp uses chemical cues emitted in response to fruit fly larval infestation for host location, but does not use cues from uninfested fruits. To further tease apart the role of (i) suitable and non-suitable maggots, (ii) infested and uninfested fruits of different plant species, and (iii) adult flies, in wasp host location and selection, I carried out a series of behavioural tests where I manipulated these attributes in a field cage. These trials confirmed that D. kraussii did not respond to cues in uninfested fruits, that there were consistent preferences by the wasps for different maggot infested fruits, that fruit preference did not vary depending on whether the maggots were physiologically suitable or not suitable for wasp offspring development, and finally, that adult flies appear to play a secondary role as indicators of larval infestation. To investigate wasp behaviour in an unrestrained environment, I concurrently observed diurnal foraging behaviours of both the wasp and one of its host fly in a small nectarine orchard. Wasp behaviour, both spatially and temporally, was not correlated with adult fruit fly behaviour or abundance. This study reinforced the point that infested fruit seems to be the primary cue used by foraging wasps. Wasp and fly feeding and mating was not observed in the orchard, implying these activities are occurring elsewhere. It is highly unlikely that these behaviours were happening within the orchard during the night as both insects are diurnal. As the final component of investigating host location, I carried out a habitat preference study for the wasp at the landscape scale. Using infested sentinel fruits, I tested the parasitism rate of B. tryoni in eucalyptus sclerophyll forest, rainforest and suburbia in South East Queensland. Although, rainforest is the likely endemic habitat of both B. tryoni and D. kraussii, B. tryoni abundance is significantly greater in suburban environments followed by eucalyptus sclerophyll forest. Parasitism rate was found to be higher in suburbia than in the eucalyptus sclerophyll forest, while no parasitism was recorded in the rainforest. This result suggests that wasps orient within the landscape towards areas of high host density and are not restricted by habitat types. Results from the different experiments suggest that host searching, selection and utilisation behaviour of D. kraussii are strongly influenced by cues associated with fruit fly larval feeding. Cues from uninfested fruits, the host larvae themselves, and the adult host flies play minimal roles. The discussion focuses on the fit of D. kraussii to Vinson’s classical parasitoid host location model and the implications of results for biological control, including recommendations for host and plant preference screening protocols and release regimes.

O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar alguns aspectos biológicos e morfológicos de D. longicaudata criados em larvas irradiadas e não irradiadas de C. capitata das linhagens bisexual e tsl (temperature sensitive lethal) e foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia (LIARE) do CENA/USP. Para o tratamento das larvas com radiação gama, utilizou-se uma fonte de Cobalto-60, modelo Gammabeam-650, nas doses de 65 e 45 Gy, respectivamente, para larvas das linhagens bisexual e tsl de C. capitata. O experimento foi conduzido em sala com temperatura de 25 \'+ OU -\' 2\'X GRAUS\' C e com UR 75 \'+ OU -\' 5% e fotofase de 14 horas. Após a irradiação, as larvas da linhagem bisexual foram expostas aos adultos de D. longicaudata, verificando-se os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de emergência de adultos e proporção de macho e fêmeas de D. longicaudata. Para a linhagem tsl, foram utilizadas penas larvas da 1a e da 4a coleta, verificando-se os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de emergência de adultos, proporção de machos e fêmeas, volume médio unitário e peso médio unitário das pupas parasitadas aos 8 e 16 dias após o parasitismo. Outros parâmetros avaliados para a linhagem tsl referem-se à morfologia do parasitóide, tais como comprimento total de corpo, antena, tíbia e ovipositor. Verificou-se, tanto no 1o como no 2o experimento, que o índice de parasitismo foi satisfatório, assim como ocorreu maior incidência de fêmeas do que machos em larvas parasitadas, descartando a possibilidade da radiação gama interferir na razão sexual. Quanto ao volume médio unitário das pupas, não foram observadas diferenças significativas. Com relação ao peso médio unitário das pupas, foram observadas algumas diferenças, aos 8 e 16 dias após o parasitismo, as quais devem estar associadas à moscas pré-emergentes (8 dias) e pupas vazias (16 dias). Quanto aos parâmetros morfológicos avaliados, não foram verificadas diferenças significativas para nenhuma das coletas testadas, comprovando que a radiação gama não interferiu nos parâmetros de qualidade do parasitóide / The objective of this work was evaluate some biological and morphological aspects of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on irradiated and not irradiated larva of bisexual and tsl strains of Ceratitis capitata. The experiments were developed at the Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia (LIARE) of CENA/USP. For gamma radiation treatment it was used a Cobalt-60 source, model Gammabeam-650. Larva of bisexual strain were irradiated with 65 Gy and the tsl strain with 45 Gy. Experiments were carried out at room temperature of 25 \'+ OU -\' 2\'X GRAUS\' C, 75 \'+ OU -\' 5 % RH and 14 hours of photophase. After irradiation, the bisexual strain larva were exposed to adults of D. longicaudata for parasitization and parameters of percentage adult emergency and rate of male and female of D. longicaudata were observed. For tsl strain, were used larva from the 1st and the 4th collection only, and the following parameters were observed: percentage of adult emergency, rate of male and female, and the average unitary volume and weight of pupae at the 8th and 16 days after the parasitism date. Other parameters evaluated for tsl strain related to the parasitoid?s morphology such as, the length of the body, antenna, tibia and ovipositor. As result, both of the 1st and 2nd experiment, the rate of parasitism was satisfatory, as well as showed larger incidence of females than males in parasitized larva, discarding the possibility that gamma radiation interfere in the sexual rate. No significant differences were observed on pupae volume. Some differences on pupae weight were observed at 8th and 16th day after the parasitism date, which should be associated to pre-emerging flies (8th day) and empty pupa (16th day). None significant difference was observed on morphological parameters, so one can conclude that gamma radiation treatment did not interfere in these quality parameters of the parasitoid

O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar alguns aspectos biológicos e morfológicos de D. longicaudata criados em larvas irradiadas e não irradiadas de C. capitata das linhagens bisexual e tsl (temperature sensitive lethal) e foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia (LIARE) do CENA/USP. Para o tratamento das larvas com radiação gama, utilizou-se uma fonte de Cobalto-60, modelo Gammabeam-650, nas doses de 65 e 45 Gy, respectivamente, para larvas das linhagens bisexual e tsl de C. capitata. O experimento foi conduzido em sala com temperatura de 25 \'+ OU -\' 2\'X GRAUS\' C e com UR 75 \'+ OU -\' 5% e fotofase de 14 horas. Após a irradiação, as larvas da linhagem bisexual foram expostas aos adultos de D. longicaudata, verificando-se os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de emergência de adultos e proporção de macho e fêmeas de D. longicaudata. Para a linhagem tsl, foram utilizadas penas larvas da 1a e da 4a coleta, verificando-se os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de emergência de adultos, proporção de machos e fêmeas, volume médio unitário e peso médio unitário das pupas parasitadas aos 8 e 16 dias após o parasitismo. Outros parâmetros avaliados para a linhagem tsl referem-se à morfologia do parasitóide, tais como comprimento total de corpo, antena, tíbia e ovipositor. Verificou-se, tanto no 1o como no 2o experimento, que o índice de parasitismo foi satisfatório, assim como ocorreu maior incidência de fêmeas do que machos em larvas parasitadas, descartando a possibilidade da radiação gama interferir na razão sexual. Quanto ao volume médio unitário das pupas, não foram observadas diferenças significativas. Com relação ao peso médio unitário das pupas, foram observadas algumas diferenças, aos 8 e 16 dias após o parasitismo, as quais devem estar associadas à moscas pré-emergentes (8 dias) e pupas vazias (16 dias). Quanto aos parâmetros morfológicos avaliados, não foram verificadas diferenças significativas para nenhuma das coletas testadas, comprovando que a radiação gama não interferiu nos parâmetros de qualidade do parasitóide / The objective of this work was evaluate some biological and morphological aspects of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on irradiated and not irradiated larva of bisexual and tsl strains of Ceratitis capitata. The experiments were developed at the Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia (LIARE) of CENA/USP. For gamma radiation treatment it was used a Cobalt-60 source, model Gammabeam-650. Larva of bisexual strain were irradiated with 65 Gy and the tsl strain with 45 Gy. Experiments were carried out at room temperature of 25 \'+ OU -\' 2\'X GRAUS\' C, 75 \'+ OU -\' 5 % RH and 14 hours of photophase. After irradiation, the bisexual strain larva were exposed to adults of D. longicaudata for parasitization and parameters of percentage adult emergency and rate of male and female of D. longicaudata were observed. For tsl strain, were used larva from the 1st and the 4th collection only, and the following parameters were observed: percentage of adult emergency, rate of male and female, and the average unitary volume and weight of pupae at the 8th and 16 days after the parasitism date. Other parameters evaluated for tsl strain related to the parasitoid?s morphology such as, the length of the body, antenna, tibia and ovipositor. As result, both of the 1st and 2nd experiment, the rate of parasitism was satisfatory, as well as showed larger incidence of females than males in parasitized larva, discarding the possibility that gamma radiation interfere in the sexual rate. No significant differences were observed on pupae volume. Some differences on pupae weight were observed at 8th and 16th day after the parasitism date, which should be associated to pre-emerging flies (8th day) and empty pupa (16th day). None significant difference was observed on morphological parameters, so one can conclude that gamma radiation treatment did not interfere in these quality parameters of the parasitoid

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:58:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gil_r_me_botfca.pdf: 1048343 bytes, checksum: b4d48fd8c3c7c00b879a23445ecbf102 (MD5) / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar a biologia e comportamento do parasitóide Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), durante seis gerações, criado sobre larvas de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) irradiadas e não irradiadas com radiação gama e foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil. Para o tratamento com radiação gama, utilizou-se uma fonte de Cobalto – 60, modelo Gammabeam – 650. A dose utilizada no tratamento foi de 63,25 Gy, sob uma taxa de dose média de 287,83 Gy/hora. O experimento foi conduzido sob condições controladas com temperatura de 27 ± 1oC, umidade relativa de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 14 horas. Foram utilizados 2 tratamentos, hospedeiros não irradiados e hospedeiros irradiados. Nos dez dias consecutivos de parasitismo em cada geração, foram fornecidas 750 larvas/gaiola/tratamento no primeiro dia e à medida que as fêmeas morriam, o número de larvas oferecidas diminuía a fim de se manter a proporção de 10 larvas/fêmea. Foram utilizadas 3 gaiolas/tratamento com tempo de parasitismo de 40 minutos. Os parâmetros biológicos avaliados foram: 1) Peso de pupas; 2) Porcentagem de emergência; 3) Razão sexual; 4) Longevidade de adultos sob estresse e 5) Habilidade de Vôo. Foram pesadas pupas de C. capitata com 7 e 13 dias de idade contendo, no seu interior, o parasitóide D. longicaudata. Verificou-se que pupas advindas de larvas hospedeiras não irradiadas foram mais pesadas, devido a presença de moscas pré-emergentes, no primeiro caso (7 dias) e a menor porcentagem de pupas “vazias” na pesagem ao 13o dia. Pôde-se verificar maior porcentagem de emergência de parasitóides em hospedeiros irradiados e maior porcentagem de parasitóides... . / The objective of this work was study the biology and behavior of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), during six generations, reared on larvae of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) irradiated and not irradiated with gamma radiation and was developed in the Laboratory of Food Irradiation and Radioentomology of the Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. For gamma radiation treatment, a source of Cobalt–60 (Gammabeam – 650) was used. A dose of 63.25 Gy was used, at an average dose rate of 287.83 Gy/h. The experiment was conduced under controlled environment (27 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH, and photoperiod of 14:10 L:D). Two treatments were used: not irradiated and irradiated host larvae. During 10 consecutive days of parasitism in each generation, 750 larvae/cage/treatment were supplied and, as the females died, the number of offered larvae was decreased in order to keep the proportion of 10 larvae/female. Three cages/treatment were used and the parasitism period was 40 minutes. The evaluated biological parameters were: 1) weight of pupae; 2) percent adult emergency; 3) sexual rate; 4) adult’s longevity under stress, and 5) flight ability. Pupae of C. capitata with 7 and 13 d of age were heavier holding, his inside, the parasitoid D. longicaudata. Pupae coming from not irradiated host larvae were heavier, due to the presence of pre-emerging flies in the first case (7 d), and due to a smaller percentage of “empty” pupae at the 13th d. Larger percentage of parasitoids emergency in irradiated hosts and larger percentage of female parasitoids in laboratory in both treatments, discarding the possibility that the radiation influences on the sexual rate of parasitoids. There was not difference in the longevity of the parasitoids between the irradiated and not irradiated treatments... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below).

Resumo: O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar a biologia e comportamento do parasitóide Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), durante seis gerações, criado sobre larvas de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) irradiadas e não irradiadas com radiação gama e foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Irradiação de Alimentos e Radioentomologia do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil. Para o tratamento com radiação gama, utilizou-se uma fonte de Cobalto - 60, modelo Gammabeam - 650. A dose utilizada no tratamento foi de 63,25 Gy, sob uma taxa de dose média de 287,83 Gy/hora. O experimento foi conduzido sob condições controladas com temperatura de 27 ± 1oC, umidade relativa de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 14 horas. Foram utilizados 2 tratamentos, hospedeiros não irradiados e hospedeiros irradiados. Nos dez dias consecutivos de parasitismo em cada geração, foram fornecidas 750 larvas/gaiola/tratamento no primeiro dia e à medida que as fêmeas morriam, o número de larvas oferecidas diminuía a fim de se manter a proporção de 10 larvas/fêmea. Foram utilizadas 3 gaiolas/tratamento com tempo de parasitismo de 40 minutos. Os parâmetros biológicos avaliados foram: 1) Peso de pupas; 2) Porcentagem de emergência; 3) Razão sexual; 4) Longevidade de adultos sob estresse e 5) Habilidade de Vôo. Foram pesadas pupas de C. capitata com 7 e 13 dias de idade contendo, no seu interior, o parasitóide D. longicaudata. Verificou-se que pupas advindas de larvas hospedeiras não irradiadas foram mais pesadas, devido a presença de moscas pré-emergentes, no primeiro caso (7 dias) e a menor porcentagem de pupas "vazias" na pesagem ao 13o dia. Pôde-se verificar maior porcentagem de emergência de parasitóides em hospedeiros irradiados e maior porcentagem de parasitóides... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo). / Abstract: The objective of this work was study the biology and behavior of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), during six generations, reared on larvae of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) irradiated and not irradiated with gamma radiation and was developed in the Laboratory of Food Irradiation and Radioentomology of the Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. For gamma radiation treatment, a source of Cobalt-60 (Gammabeam - 650) was used. A dose of 63.25 Gy was used, at an average dose rate of 287.83 Gy/h. The experiment was conduced under controlled environment (27 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH, and photoperiod of 14:10 L:D). Two treatments were used: not irradiated and irradiated host larvae. During 10 consecutive days of parasitism in each generation, 750 larvae/cage/treatment were supplied and, as the females died, the number of offered larvae was decreased in order to keep the proportion of 10 larvae/female. Three cages/treatment were used and the parasitism period was 40 minutes. The evaluated biological parameters were: 1) weight of pupae; 2) percent adult emergency; 3) sexual rate; 4) adult's longevity under stress, and 5) flight ability. Pupae of C. capitata with 7 and 13 d of age were heavier holding, his inside, the parasitoid D. longicaudata. Pupae coming from not irradiated host larvae were heavier, due to the presence of pre-emerging flies in the first case (7 d), and due to a smaller percentage of "empty" pupae at the 13th d. Larger percentage of parasitoids emergency in irradiated hosts and larger percentage of female parasitoids in laboratory in both treatments, discarding the possibility that the radiation influences on the sexual rate of parasitoids. There was not difference in the longevity of the parasitoids between the irradiated and not irradiated treatments... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below). / Orientador: Francisco de Assis Ganeo de Mello / Coorientador: Júlio Marcos Melges Walder / Mestre