Interactions between Two Parasitoids of Tephritidae: Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) and Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), under Laboratory Conditions

The braconid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), was introduced in Kenya from Hawaii for classical biological control of the invasive tephritid, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel. Following reports that D. longicaudata had formed new associations with Ceratitis cosyra, laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the interaction between the introduced and the native parasitoid of C. cosyra; Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) under three scenarios: B. dorsalis only, C. cosyra only and mixed populations of the two species. Parasitoids were introduced to the host as sole, sequential and simultaneous releases. Host searching and probing events were five times higher for D. longicaudata than P. cosyrae with both hosts. Total parasitism was highest (78%) when D. longicaudata was released alone on C. cosyra, compared to 20% for P. cosyrae released on the same host. Releases of P. cosyrae on B. dorsalis resulted in 0% parasitism, compared to 64% parasitism by D. longicaudata. Specific parasitism for P. cosyrae was three times higher when P. cosyrae was released first in sequential releases on C. cosyra compared to when it was released after D. longicaudata. These findings suggest that the two parasitoids can both suppress C. cosyra but B. dorsalis acts as a reproductive sink for P. cosyrae. Our findings should form the basis of field investigations where options are much wider for both parasitoids.