Interações tróficas envolvendo moscas-das-frutas: parasitoides e Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) como aliados de controle

Abstract

Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) stand out for their polyphagy and phenotypic plasticity, directly impacting fruit production and export markets.Knowing the fruit fly complex, as well as the variations in infestation and parasitism among fruit trees is, in this perspective, essential to manage risks and implement assertive tactics in orchards with a diversity of host plants.Furthermore, the prospect of new biocontrol agents is a particularly interesting strategy, especially when we consider natural enemies already present in the field, such as the predator Euborelliaannulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae).This study determined the composition of the fruit fly complex for an orchard in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil and evaluated the role of guava (Psidium guajava) as repositories and prey presence by E. annulipes.Additionally, predation of the fruit fly C. capitata by E. annulipes was determined and we investigated whether parasitism by Diachasmimorphalongicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) influences predation, in addition to verifying whether chemical markings of the parasitoid D. longicaudata guide the choice of E. annulipes between parasitized and non-parasitized larvae.For the field survey, five species of fruit flies and seven species of parasitoids were associated with five botanical families.The highest infestation rate was obtained for araçá-boi (Eugenia stipitata) and we considered pitanga (Eugenia uniflora) and araçá-roxo (Psidium myrtoides) as repositories of fruit fly parasitoids.Sampling with traps allowed the capture of 10 species of fruit flies, being A. amita and A. punctata reported for the first time for the state of Minas Gerais.The most abundant species were C. capitata, A. fraterculus and A. obliqua.Our results also showed that females of the predator E. annulipes use volatile chemical cues to locate guava fruits, which serve as a repository, and that despite being initially attracted by the odors of prey-infested guava fruits, they prefer to shelter in uninfested fruits after predation.Furthermore, females prey on a greater number of fruit flies than males, regardless of prey developmental stage, but both sexes exhibited a type II functional response. Interestingly, the males killed the prey but did not consume more fruit fly larvae than the females.In the choice tests, females avoided feeding on larvae parasitized by D. longicaudata.Overall, these findings are unprecedented, add knowledge and new trophic relationships for fruit flies and indicate that E. annulipes is a potential biological control agent for C. capitata.By avoiding the consumption of larvae parasitized by D. longicaudata, the combination of the two natural enemies is promising, and may result in an additive effect on pest mortality.