Aganaspis daci

Aganaspis daci (Weld)

(Also known as Trybliographa daci Weld)

Systematic position: Insecta, Holometabola, Hymenoptera, Apocrita, Chalcidoidea, Figitidae.

Geographical distribution: Of South-Asian origin, this species had been introduced into many regions for fruit fly control.

Morphology: The body of the adult is black with yellow legs, about 3.5 mm in length.

Life history: Aganaspis daci is an egg-pupal endoparasitoid of fruit flies. Its calculated threshold of development is around 9-11°C, and approximately 450 day degrees are required to complete a generation. Adults live for 2-3 weeks and lay ca 40 eggs/female at the optimal temperature range (23–25°C). At higher temperatures (above 30°C) they cannot complete their life cycle.

Economic importance: Aganaspis daci is a major controlling factor of Ceratitis capitata, at times killing >60% of the pests. In Israel it is an important enemy of C. capitata, and abroad it is a major parasitoid of Bactrocera zonata (the preferred host) and other fruit flies, like the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew).

References

Adly, D. 2016. Thermal requirements of the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), and its exotic parasitoid species Aganaspis daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae). Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences 9: 89-96.

de Pedro, L., Beitia, F., Sabater-Muñoz, B., Asís, J.D. and Tormos, J. 2016. Effect of temperature on the developmental time, survival of immatures and adult longevity of Aganaspis daci (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), a natural enemy of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Crop. Protection 85: 17-22.

de Pedro, L. Tormos, J., Asís, J.D., Sabater-Muñoz, B. and Beitia, F. 2018. Biology of Aganaspis daci (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), parasitoid of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae): Mode of reproduction, biological parameters and superparasitism. Crop Protection 108: 54-61.

Hosni, M.E., El-Heneidy, A., El-Hussieni, M. and Atalla, F. 2012. Biological aspects of the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saund.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its parasitoid species, Aganaspis daci Weld. (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae). Egyptian Journal of Pest Control 21: 137-142.

Papadopoulos, N.T. and Katsoyannos, B.I. 2003. Field parasitism of C. capitata larvae by Aganaspis daci in Chios, Greece. Biocontrol 48: 191-195.

Soomro, F.A. (and 11 co-authors). 2016. Effect of different hosts on the biology of Trybliographa daci (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) under lab conditions. Journal of Natural Sciences Research 6: 95-103.

Website

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