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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229611
Title: A novel method to evaluate the reproductive potential of Phymastichus Coffea (Hymenoptera: Eulophydae) in Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) under laboratory conditions

Author
item Portilla, Maribel
item Streett, Douglas
item Grodowitz, Michael

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2018
Publication Date: 12/7/2018
Citation: Portilla, M., Streett, D.A., Grodowitz, M.J. 2018. A novel method to evaluate the reproductive potential of Phymastichus Coffea (Hymenoptera: Eulophydae) in Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) under laboratory conditions. Journal of Insect Science. 18(6):1-7.

Interpretive Summary: The coffee bean borer is the most important insect pest attacking coffee crops and is responsible for severe economic losses. The pest was originally from Africa but is now found in almost all of the major coffee producing countries. Classical biological control programs using the parasitoid Phymastichus coffea to manage coffee borer populations has been attempted around the world but these programs have not always been successful because of difficulties in mass rearing the parasitoid. Knowledge about the biology of the parasitoid is critical to developing an effective rearing technique. We developed a rearing system and calculated the reproductive potential and biological parameters of the parasitoid. Our study has shown that the parasitoid can be reared on coffee berry borers reared on artificial diets. This information will aid in the implementation of biological control programs aimed to reduce populations of the coffee borer.

Technical Abstract: Phymastichus coffea (La Salle), (Hymenoptera: Eulophydae) is the only known endoparasitoid wasp that attacks the adult female of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus Hampei (Ferrari), (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The biological parameters and reproductive potential of P. coffea were determined in this study. Oviposition period was 20.33 (± 0.87 SE) hours and the post-oviposition period of 14.78 (± 0.99 SE) hours. Mean generation time was 37 days. Median longevity for females and males fed on a honey-water solution (50:50) was 35.22 (± 1.18 SE) and 17.16 (± 0.96 SE) hours, respectively. The highest oviposition values were observed during the first 4 hours after emergence. The sex ratio (F: M) was 1.11: 1.04 with a finite rate of increase ['] of 1.06 wasp/days and an r value of 0.067. Gross fecundity [M ] and net fecundity [m ] was 19.87 males and females/ female and 10.9 females/ female, respectively. The net reproductive rate [ ] was 9.49 females / wasp. Wasp behavior was that of a primary, gregarious, sinovigenic parasitoid, with facultative parthenogenesis of an arrenotokia type.