ARS | Publication request: 2008 Field Releases of Psyttalia Cf. Concolor for Biological Control of Olive Fruit Fly in California

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: January 29, 2009
Publication Date: March 29, 2009
Citation: Yokoyama, V.Y., Rendon, P.A., Caceres, C.E. 2009. 2008 Field Releases of Psyttalia cf. concolor for Biological Control of Olive Fruit Fly in California. Abstracts of the Entomological Society of America, 93rd Pacific Branch Annual Meeting, March 29-April 1, 2009. p. 53.

Technical Abstract: The parasitoid Psytallia cf. concolor (Szépligeti) was reared on sterile Mediterranean fruit fly larvae at the USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Petapa Quarantine Laboratory in Guatemala and shipped to the USDA-ARS, Parlier for biological control of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), in California. Improved techniques were developed to increase parasitoid production and to enhance survival during shipment by two-day air and ground freight. An average of about 16,000 parasitoids was received in Parlier per week between September 2008 and January 2009. The parasitoids were released in olive trees with fruit infested with olive fruit fly in southern California at Rancho Bernardo; in the San Joaquin Valley at Strathmore and Lemon Cove; in the Sacramento Valley at Lodi, Orland, and Oroville; and in coastal areas at Solvang, Cayucos, Paso Robles, San Jose, and Napa. In most locations, subsequent generations of the parasitoid were collected from olive fruit fly in post-release samples of fruit. Fewer olive fruit fly larvae were collected from fruit in trees that were exposed to parasitoids, than in fruit from trees that were not exposed. More parasitoids were collected from fruit infested with olive fruit fly in the upper canopy of trees than in the lower canopy.