Laboratory and field performance of Trichopria drosophilae reared on Drosophila melanogaster and D. Suzukii

Two colonies of the parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae (Perkins) (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) are reproduced mass rearing approach in Mexico. The first colony uses the worldwide commercial host Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) reared on an artificial diet (=T. drosophilae-Dm), while the second colony D. suzukii Matsumura reared on fresh banana (=T. drosophilae-Ds). Since theoretically the type of colony affects parasitoid field performance, we conducted concatenated laboratory and field studies of both parasitoid lines. In the laboratory trials, T. drosophilae-Ds exhibited greater longevity, larger adult size, and higher fecundity than T. drosophilae-Dm. Both lines of parasitoids oviposited indistinctly in three drosophilid species commonly found in the berry zones of Colima: D. melanogaster, D. suzukii, and Zaprionus indianus Gupta. In the field T. drosophilae-Ds had a larger population size and provided 2.4-fold higher pest reduction compared T. drosophilae-Dm. Under the particular conditions of these field trials (berry fields separate from each other km, and intensive agronomic management), these results demonstrate that T. drosophilae-Ds can significantly contribute more to the integrated management of D. suzukii than when reared on the commercial D. melanogaster.