Reproductive biology and functional response of Dineulophus phtorimaeae, a natural enemy of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta

The tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest in South America and is at present an important invasive species in the Mediterranean Basin. The larval stadium mines leaves, stems, and fruits, and chemical control is the most used control method in both its original range and the invaded distribution regions. Since current T. absoluta control strategies seem limited, biological control is a prominent tool to be applied abroad. The naturally occurring larval ectoparasitoid in Argentina and Chile Dineulophus phtorimaeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reported to have potential biocontrol efficiency. In this study, the ovigeny strategy of D. phtorimaeae was analyzed throughout the adult female lifetime, and the functional response of females offered a range of 2-15 T. absoluta larvae was measured over a 48-hour period. Mean D. phtorimaeae egg load was 4.15 eggs, and egg production resulted in extremely synovigenic behavior. Meanwhile, a decreasing number of eggs, due to resorption, was found. Proportions of attacked (host-fed and/or parasitized) and only host-fed hosts by the ectoparasitoid were density independent for the tested host range, exhibiting a type I functional response to T. absoluta, with an attack rate of 0.20 host larvae. Meanings of this reproductive strategy in evolutionary time as well as the consequences for augmentative biological control programs are discussed.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Reproductive biology and functional response of Dineulophus phtorimaeae, a natural enemy of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta

The tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest in South America and is at present an important invasive species in the Mediterranean Basin. The larval stadium mines leaves, stems, and fruits, and chemical control is the most used control method in both its original range and the invaded distribution regions. Since current T. absoluta control strategies seem limited, biological control is a prominent tool to be applied abroad. The naturally occurring larval ectoparasitoid in Argentina and Chile Dineulophus phtorimaeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reported to have potential biocontrol efficiency. In this study, the ovigeny strategy of D. phtorimaeae was analyzed throughout the adult female lifetime, and the functional response of females offered a range of 2-15 T. absoluta larvae was measured over a 48-hour period. Mean D. phtorimaeae egg load was 4.15 eggs, and egg production resulted in extremely synovigenic behavior. Meanwhile, a decreasing number of eggs, due to resorption, was found. Proportions of attacked (host-fed and/or parasitized) and only host-fed hosts by the ectoparasitoid were density independent for the tested host range, exhibiting a type I functional response to T. absoluta, with an attack rate of 0.20 host larvae. Meanings of this reproductive strategy in evolutionary time as well as the consequences for augmentative biological control programs are discussed.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Reproductive biology and functional response of Dineulophus phtorimaeae, a natural enemy of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta

The tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest in South America and is at present an important invasive species in the Mediterranean Basin. The larval stadium mines leaves, stems, and fruits, and chemical control is the most used control method in both its original range and the invaded distribution regions. Since current T. absoluta control strategies seem limited, biological control is a prominent tool to be applied abroad. The naturally occurring larval ectoparasitoid in Argentina and Chile Dineulophus phtorimaeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reported to have potential biocontrol efficiency. In this study, the ovigeny strategy of D. phtorimaeae was analyzed throughout the adult female lifetime, and the functional response of females offered a range of 2-15 T. absoluta larvae was measured over a 48-hour period. Mean D. phtorimaeae egg load was 4.15 eggs, and egg production resulted in extremely synovigenic behavior. Meanwhile, a decreasing number of eggs, due to resorption, was found. Proportions of attacked (host-fed and/or parasitized) and only host-fed hosts by the ectoparasitoid were density independent for the tested host range, exhibiting a type I functional response to T. absoluta, with an attack rate of 0.20 host larvae. Meanings of this reproductive strategy in evolutionary time as well as the consequences for augmentative biological control programs are discussed.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Temporal variation of diversity and abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids attacking Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) larvae in tomato crops of Tucumán (Argentina)

Se presentan los resultados de investigaciones de 15 años (1997-2012) sobre el complejo de himenópteros parasitoides que atacan a Tuta absoluta en plantaciones comerciales de tomate del centro de la provincia de Tucumán (Argentina). Mediante muestreos de hojas de tomate dañadas por la plaga, se identificaron 13 especies de parasitoides, siendo el gremio de los endoparasitoides larvales el más representado. Pseudapanteles dignus y Dineulophus phthorimaeae tuvieron presencia constante en todo el período de estudio y dominaron numéricamente el complejo. Earinus sp. exhibió altos valores de parasitoidismo en los primeros años, siendo reemplazado en años posteriores por Neochrysocharis formosa.This work summarizes the results of a 15-year research (1997 – 2012) on the hymenopteran parasitoid complex that attacks Tuta absoluta in commercial tomato plantations in Central Tucumán province, Argentina. By sampling tomato leaves with signs of T. absoluta damage, 13 species of parasitoids were identified, being the larval endoparasitoid guild the most represented guild. Pseudapanteles dignus and Dineulophus phthorimaeae had a constant presence throughout the studied period and numerically dominated the complex. Earinus sp. exhibited high values of parasitoidism in the early years, being replaced later by Neochrysocharis formosa.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Temporal variation of diversity and abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids attacking Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) larvae in tomato crops of Tucumán (Argentina)

Se presentan los resultados de investigaciones de 15 años (1997-2012) sobre el complejo de himenópteros parasitoides que atacan a Tuta absoluta en plantaciones comerciales de tomate del centro de la provincia de Tucumán (Argentina). Mediante muestreos de hojas de tomate dañadas por la plaga, se identificaron 13 especies de parasitoides, siendo el gremio de los endoparasitoides larvales el más representado. Pseudapanteles dignus y Dineulophus phthorimaeae tuvieron presencia constante en todo el período de estudio y dominaron numéricamente el complejo. Earinus sp. exhibió altos valores de parasitoidismo en los primeros años, siendo reemplazado en años posteriores por Neochrysocharis formosa.This work summarizes the results of a 15-year research (1997 – 2012) on the hymenopteran parasitoid complex that attacks Tuta absoluta in commercial tomato plantations in Central Tucumán province, Argentina. By sampling tomato leaves with signs of T. absoluta damage, 13 species of parasitoids were identified, being the larval endoparasitoid guild the most represented guild. Pseudapanteles dignus and Dineulophus phthorimaeae had a constant presence throughout the studied period and numerically dominated the complex. Earinus sp. exhibited high values of parasitoidism in the early years, being replaced later by Neochrysocharis formosa.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Temporal variation of diversity and abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids attacking Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) larvae in tomato crops of Tucumán (Argentina)

Se presentan los resultados de investigaciones de 15 años (1997-2012) sobre el complejo de himenópteros parasitoides que atacan a Tuta absoluta en plantaciones comerciales de tomate del centro de la provincia de Tucumán (Argentina). Mediante muestreos de hojas de tomate dañadas por la plaga, se identificaron 13 especies de parasitoides, siendo el gremio de los endoparasitoides larvales el más representado. Pseudapanteles dignus y Dineulophus phthorimaeae tuvieron presencia constante en todo el período de estudio y dominaron numéricamente el complejo. Earinus sp. exhibió altos valores de parasitoidismo en los primeros años, siendo reemplazado en años posteriores por Neochrysocharis formosa.This work summarizes the results of a 15-year research (1997 – 2012) on the hymenopteran parasitoid complex that attacks Tuta absoluta in commercial tomato plantations in Central Tucumán province, Argentina. By sampling tomato leaves with signs of T. absoluta damage, 13 species of parasitoids were identified, being the larval endoparasitoid guild the most represented guild. Pseudapanteles dignus and Dineulophus phthorimaeae had a constant presence throughout the studied period and numerically dominated the complex. Earinus sp. exhibited high values of parasitoidism in the early years, being replaced later by Neochrysocharis formosa.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Potential of biological control agents against <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): current knowledge in Argentina

Pest suppression through biological control seeks to maximize the action of the pest's natural enemies with the goal of reducing pesticide use. We present a summary of published studies and original findings on several entomophagous species as biocontrol agents of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a key pest of tomato crops in Argentina, with the aim to select potential candidates for its management. Spontaneously occurring T. absoluta egg parasitism was lower than that inflicted by the larval parasitoids Dineulophus phthorimaeae (De Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). These parasitoids exhibit important life history traits in laboratory conditions and produce relevant amounts of T. absoluta mortality in the field. Surveys carried out in Tucumán and Buenos Aires provinces, Argentina, revealed that D. phthorimaeae and P. dignus coexist in tomato and eggplant crops; T. absoluta-P. dignus interaction is also found on other non-cultivated solanaceous species present in horticultural farms. In addition, studies are currently under way to determine the predation ability of Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on both larvae and adults of the pest. Finally, we discuss the prospects for implementing experimental augmentative releases of P. dignus to control the pest, a candidate selected considering various positive biological traits and because of its simple mass production and manipulation compared with other antagonists of T. absoluta.El control biológico de plagas tiene como premisa maximizar la acción de sus enemigos naturales para reducir el uso de plaguicidas en la agricultura. En este trabajo se reúne información de estudios sobre las especies de entomófagos de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) más importantes en el cultivo de tomate de la Argentina, con el objetivo de seleccionar candidatos potenciales para el control de esta plaga. Comparativamente, el parasitismo natural de huevos de T. absoluta es más bajo que el provocado por los parasitoides larvales Dineulophus phthorimaeae (de Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) y Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Estos parasitoides exhiben atributos relevantes como agentes de control en estudios de laboratorio y campo. Muestreos realizados en las provincias de Tucumán y Buenos Aires, Argentina, mostraron que D. phthorimaeae y P. dignus coexisten en los cultivos de tomate y de berenjena, y también P. dignus se encuentra en otras solanáceas no cultivadas presentes en los predios hortícolas. Adicionalmente, se están llevando a cabo estudios para determinar la capacidad de depredación de Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) sobre larvas y adultos de la plaga. Finalmente, se discute sobre la implementación de liberaciones aumentativas de P. dignus, candidato que reúne varios atributos biológicos positivos como potencial agente de control biológico de la plaga, y cuya cría masiva y manipulación son más simples que las de otros antagonistas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoCentro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Potential of biological control agents against <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): current knowledge in Argentina

Pest suppression through biological control seeks to maximize the action of the pest's natural enemies with the goal of reducing pesticide use. We present a summary of published studies and original findings on several entomophagous species as biocontrol agents of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a key pest of tomato crops in Argentina, with the aim to select potential candidates for its management. Spontaneously occurring T. absoluta egg parasitism was lower than that inflicted by the larval parasitoids Dineulophus phthorimaeae (De Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). These parasitoids exhibit important life history traits in laboratory conditions and produce relevant amounts of T. absoluta mortality in the field. Surveys carried out in Tucumán and Buenos Aires provinces, Argentina, revealed that D. phthorimaeae and P. dignus coexist in tomato and eggplant crops; T. absoluta-P. dignus interaction is also found on other non-cultivated solanaceous species present in horticultural farms. In addition, studies are currently under way to determine the predation ability of Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on both larvae and adults of the pest. Finally, we discuss the prospects for implementing experimental augmentative releases of P. dignus to control the pest, a candidate selected considering various positive biological traits and because of its simple mass production and manipulation compared with other antagonists of T. absoluta.El control biológico de plagas tiene como premisa maximizar la acción de sus enemigos naturales para reducir el uso de plaguicidas en la agricultura. En este trabajo se reúne información de estudios sobre las especies de entomófagos de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) más importantes en el cultivo de tomate de la Argentina, con el objetivo de seleccionar candidatos potenciales para el control de esta plaga. Comparativamente, el parasitismo natural de huevos de T. absoluta es más bajo que el provocado por los parasitoides larvales Dineulophus phthorimaeae (de Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) y Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Estos parasitoides exhiben atributos relevantes como agentes de control en estudios de laboratorio y campo. Muestreos realizados en las provincias de Tucumán y Buenos Aires, Argentina, mostraron que D. phthorimaeae y P. dignus coexisten en los cultivos de tomate y de berenjena, y también P. dignus se encuentra en otras solanáceas no cultivadas presentes en los predios hortícolas. Adicionalmente, se están llevando a cabo estudios para determinar la capacidad de depredación de Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) sobre larvas y adultos de la plaga. Finalmente, se discute sobre la implementación de liberaciones aumentativas de P. dignus, candidato que reúne varios atributos biológicos positivos como potencial agente de control biológico de la plaga, y cuya cría masiva y manipulación son más simples que las de otros antagonistas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoCentro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Potential of biological control agents against <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): current knowledge in Argentina

Pest suppression through biological control seeks to maximize the action of the pest's natural enemies with the goal of reducing pesticide use. We present a summary of published studies and original findings on several entomophagous species as biocontrol agents of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a key pest of tomato crops in Argentina, with the aim to select potential candidates for its management. Spontaneously occurring T. absoluta egg parasitism was lower than that inflicted by the larval parasitoids Dineulophus phthorimaeae (De Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). These parasitoids exhibit important life history traits in laboratory conditions and produce relevant amounts of T. absoluta mortality in the field. Surveys carried out in Tucumán and Buenos Aires provinces, Argentina, revealed that D. phthorimaeae and P. dignus coexist in tomato and eggplant crops; T. absoluta-P. dignus interaction is also found on other non-cultivated solanaceous species present in horticultural farms. In addition, studies are currently under way to determine the predation ability of Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on both larvae and adults of the pest. Finally, we discuss the prospects for implementing experimental augmentative releases of P. dignus to control the pest, a candidate selected considering various positive biological traits and because of its simple mass production and manipulation compared with other antagonists of T. absoluta.El control biológico de plagas tiene como premisa maximizar la acción de sus enemigos naturales para reducir el uso de plaguicidas en la agricultura. En este trabajo se reúne información de estudios sobre las especies de entomófagos de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) más importantes en el cultivo de tomate de la Argentina, con el objetivo de seleccionar candidatos potenciales para el control de esta plaga. Comparativamente, el parasitismo natural de huevos de T. absoluta es más bajo que el provocado por los parasitoides larvales Dineulophus phthorimaeae (de Santis, 1983) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) y Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck, 1938) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Estos parasitoides exhiben atributos relevantes como agentes de control en estudios de laboratorio y campo. Muestreos realizados en las provincias de Tucumán y Buenos Aires, Argentina, mostraron que D. phthorimaeae y P. dignus coexisten en los cultivos de tomate y de berenjena, y también P. dignus se encuentra en otras solanáceas no cultivadas presentes en los predios hortícolas. Adicionalmente, se están llevando a cabo estudios para determinar la capacidad de depredación de Zelus obscuridorsis (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) sobre larvas y adultos de la plaga. Finalmente, se discute sobre la implementación de liberaciones aumentativas de P. dignus, candidato que reúne varios atributos biológicos positivos como potencial agente de control biológico de la plaga, y cuya cría masiva y manipulación son más simples que las de otros antagonistas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoCentro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore