Mass-rearing and augmentative release of hymenopterous parasitoids has been a component of area-wide management programs for several tephritid fruit flies, including pestiferous species of the genus Anastrepha (Cancino & Montoya 2008). Laboratory rearing of Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), a braconid larval-prepupal parasitoid of Anastrepha fruit flies, was first done in the United States in Florida in the late 1960s as part of an effort to biologically control the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Baranowski et al. 1993; Cancino et al. 2008). Although releases of D. areolatus for management of the A. suspensa in Florida have ended, laboratory rearing of D. areolatus is needed to produce parasitoids for establishment in Caribbean locations with pest fruit flies (Holler, unpublished data).

The process of rearing, transporting, and releasing parasitoids can be simplified if irradiated fruit fly larvae are used as hosts (Sivinski & Smittle 1990). Larvae irradiated at an appropriate dose will not develop into adult flies, but are capable of supporting the development of a number of fruit fly-specific braconid parasitoids, including Doryctobracon crawfordi (Viereck) (Aluja et al. 2008; Cancino et al.2008). In addition, parasitoids can be moved as pupae without transferring the pest. Therefore, tests were conducted to determine the effects of gamma irradiation of host larvae at a single dose on D. areolatus production and sex ratio, and on the ability of the host to complete development to adult.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Laboratory tests were initiated 18 Jun 2007 and all studies were completed 23 Aug 2007 when parasitoid and fly emergence had ceased. Doryctobracon areolatus adults were hand aspirated from F26 or F27 generation stock cages maintained by the USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST Station, in Gainesville, FL. Fifty females and 15 males per cage were placed into 10 oviposition Plexiglas cages (30 cm3), with fine mesh fabric (organza) tops and provisioned with a water source and a food source (honey on a moistened paper towel). Food was replaced weekly, water was replaced every 2 weeks and cages were washed after 4 weeks. To replace parasitoids that had died, 50 females and 5 males were added to each cage after 2 weeks, 50 females and 15 males were added after 4 weeks, and 8 females and 6 males were added after 5 weeks. Positions of the cages in the room were rotated weekly. All studies were conducted in a room maintained at 24.4–26.7°C, 60–85% relative humidity, and with a 12:12 h light:dark cycle.

Host larvae were raised on a sterilized corncob-grit-based diet at the Biological Control Rearing Facility, FDAC S—Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville, Florida. Weekly, 140 g of diet containing second instars were placed in 550 mL irradiation tubes and irradiated at 70 Gray for 7.5 min with a cesium source (Isomedix Gamma Cell 1000) (Sivinski & Smittle 1990; Aluja et al. 2008). After 5–6 d, irradiated and non-irradiated larvae were placed separately in sting rings and were presented to the parasitoids (Eitam et al. 2003). The sting rings contained 13.5 g of larvae and diet (approximately 107 insects) sandwiched between a piece of organza on the inside bottom of an embroidery ring and a piece of Parafilm on top. One sting ring with either irradiated or non-irradiated larvae was set in each cage on the top of an upside down cup for 24 h. The entire procedure was repeated the following day with fresh larvae. This procedure began 1 week after the oviposition cages were set up and continued for 4 weeks, with 2 oviposition periods tested per week for a total of 10 host exposure periods.

When removed from a cage, the sting ring was disassembled and the contents were placed in a plastic cup (215 mL) filled with fresh diet. The cup was placed in a plastic container (650 mL) with vermiculite (60 g) moistened with 1% sodium hypochlorite. The plastic containers were placed in a plastic storage box (25.5 L, Sterilite Corp., Birmingham, AL) with 2 organza-covered holes in the lid to provide ventilation. After 5–7 d, the pupae were sieved from the vermiculite and moved to fresh vermiculite, again moistened with 1% sodium hypochlorite, and kept for approximately 1 week. At 24–48 h prior to emergence, the pupae were transferred to 10 × 10-celled emergence lids with louvered florescent light cover with a solid white acrylic bottom and clear acrylic top. After 12 d, approximately 25 d after the oviposition period, numbers of adult flies and parasitoids were recorded. Adult emergence was complete by that time.

RESULTS

There was a significant effect of day of exposure on emergence rates (F = 19.5; df = 1, 9; P < 0.0001) but no effect of cage (F = 1.6; df = 1, 4; P = 0.19). Parasitoid emergence in the last 2 exposure periods was lower than in previous exposure periods, most likely because fewer parasitoids were added to the oviposition cages prior to these periods. There was no difference in emergence of D. areolatus adults from irradiated versus non-irradiated hosts (72.4 ± 1.9% vs. 73.0 ± 1.9%; t = 21.5; n = 10; P > 0.25). Nor was there a difference in sex ratio of parasitoids obtained from irradiated and non-irradiated hosts (50.0 ± 1.6 and 47.0 ± 1.4% female, respectively; t = 1.18; df = 1,88; P = 0.24). Anastrepha suspensa were affected by irradiation, with 0% emergence from irradiated larvae versus 15.3 ± 1.9% emergence from non-irradiated, parasitized larvae, (t = 0; n = 10; P < 0.003).

It was assumed that the mortality rates of the parasitoids in oviposition cages that were provided with non-irradiated larvae versus irradiated larvae were similar over time. The actual numbers of parasitoid females per cage at host exposure period were not recorded, so data on offspring per female were not available for analysis. Parasitoid numbers in the last 2 exposures, following a smaller than usual addition of parasitoids, were lower than in previous exposures, which resulted in lower parasitoid emergence and higher fly emergence.

Larvae of A. suspensa irradiated at the dose used herein can be utilized to rear D. areolatus successfully in the laboratory. No A. suspensa adults emerged from irradiated larvae, and there was no difference in the percent parasitism of irradiated and non-irradiated hosts Use of irradiated larvae as rearing hosts would streamline the rearing process and result in both increased savings and greater safety when D. areolatus are shipped overseas for biological control programs.

Future studies might further improve use of irradiated host larvae for production of D. areolatus. Cancino et al. (2008) showed that irradiating A. ludens larvae at dosages as low as 20 Gray was just as effective as higher dosages in preventing the emergence of adults. Earlier irradiation might be more convenient and could expedite parasitoid production. Anastrepha suspensa that are used for rearing parasitoids are placed as eggs on artificial diet several days prior to stinging. It would be desirable to irradiate A. suspensa at the egg or earliest larval instar because it would not require handling later instars to obtain hosts for oviposition, which would avoid any concomitant mechanical damage. Preliminary tests by the authors suggest that irradiating the entire pan of diet shortly after the egg strips are added is successful in preventing emergence of A. suspensa adults, but will not prevent A. suspensa from pupating. Further work is needed to determine if irradiating A. suspensa as eggs or early instars could be incorporated into the rearing of D. areolatus.