Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186907

Title: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF OLIVE FRUIT FLY IN CALIFORNIA BY PSYTTALIA CF. CONCOLOR (SZÉPLIGETI) FROM MOSCAMED, GUATEMALA

Author
item Yokoyama, Victoria
item Miller, Gina
item RENDON, P - USDA-APHIS, PPQ
item Sivinski, John

Submitted to: European Meeting in the IOBC/WPRS Working Group
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2005
Publication Date: 10/26/2005
Citation: Yokoyama, V.Y., Miller, G.T., Rendon, P., Sivinski, J.M. 2005. Biological control of olive fruit fly in california by psyttalia cf. concolor (szépligeti) from moscamed, guatemala. European Meeting in the IOBC/WPRS Working Group, Integrated Protection of Olive Crops" 26-28, October 2005, Florence, Italy. p.36.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The larval parasitoid, Psyttalia cf. concolor (Szépligeti), was imported into California, USA, from MOSCAMED, Guatemala, and shown to have potential for biological control of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin). Calculated percentage parasitism of olive fruit fly 3rd instars in field cage tests ranged from 4% in a dry and warm inland valley area, to 29% in a humid and cool coastal area. Small field releases of the parasitoid resulted in 5% parasitism based on the number of parasitoid adults reared from olive fruit fly infested olives collected 1 wk after releases in a coastal area. In laboratory tests at constant temperature, parasitoid adult survival decreased with an increase in temperature and correlated decrease in humidity when provided with water (48 d at 15°C and 12 d at 35°C) or with no water (4 d at 15°C and 0 d at 35°C). In greenhouse tests, at fluctuating diurnal and nocturnal temperatures, parasitoid adult survival with food and water was 21 d at 26°C and 4 d at 36°C, and was 4 d at 26°C and 1 d 36°C without food and water.