Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymastichus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii

Authors: YOUSUF, F - University Of Hawaii; Follett, Peter; GILLETT, C - University Of Hawaii; HONSBERGER, C - University Of Hawaii; Chamorro, Maria; JOHNSON, M - Us Forest Service (FS); GIRALDO JARAMILLO, M - Cenicafe; BENAVIDES MACHADO, P - Cenicafe; WRIGHT, M - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Journal of Pest Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2021
Publication Date: 3/9/2021
Citation: Yousuf, F., Follett, P.A., Gillett, C., Honsberger, C., Chamorro, M.L., Johnson, M.T., Giraldo Jaramillo, M., Benavides Machado, P., Wright, M. 2021. Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymastichus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii. Journal of Pest Science. 94:1183-1195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01353-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01353-8

Interpretive Summary: Nontarget host testing was conducted with the parasitoid Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an endoparasitoid wasp of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in quarantine. Forty-three species of beetles were tested and only 4 species of Hypothenemus were successfuly parasitized suggesting this parasioid is genus specific. There are no native Hypothenemus in Hawaii. These results suggest that the likelihood of non-target impacts is low, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of CBB in Hawaii.

Technical Abstract: Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an endoparasitoid wasp of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against CBB in Hawaii, we investigated the host selection and parasitism response of adult females of P. coffea to 43 different coleopteran species, including 6 Hypothenemus species, 17 other Scolytinae, and 4 additional Curculionidae. Nontarget testing included Hawaiian endemic-, introduced and pest species, and beneficial Coleoptera species. Using a no-choice bioassay, we demonstrated that P. coffea when exposed to a range of hosts was only able to parasitize the target host CBB and four other species from Hypothenemus. No other coleopteran species were found as suitable hosts for P. coffea. The total development period of P. coffea from oviposition to adult emergence, was 32-41 days at 25oC. These results suggest that the likelihood of non-target impacts is low, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of CBB in Hawaii.