SUBLETHAL EFFECT OF TOXIC BAITS ON THE TEPHRITID FRUIT FLY PARASITOID Fopius arisanus (SONAN, 1932) (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE)

Fruit flies of the Tephritidae family are among the most important invasive crop pests that have wide repercussions since their latent phase, with economic losses and rigorous quarantine limitations imposed by many countries to avoid their entry. The biological control of fruit flies using parasitoids of the order Hymenoptera has received great attention and is considered a promising control method in the integrated management of tephritid pests. Diets for feeding parasitoids are of great importance and can vary from a simple sugar solution to nutritionally complete diets, but the effect of the type of sugar may vary among parasitoids. This study aimed to evaluate the lethal and sublethal effects of different toxic bait formulations on Fopius arisanus, a fruit fly parasitoid. A bioassay was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replicates using descendants of F. arisanus (F1) parasitoids according to the following treatments: (T1) 3% Biofruit® + malathion; (T2) 7% sugarcane molasses + malathion; (T3) 7% sugarcane molasses + Spinosad; (T4) 3% Biofruit® + Spinosad; (T5) 3% Biofruit®; (T6) 7% sugarcane molasses; (T7) commercial bait (Success® 0.02 CB); and (T8) honey (80%). The mortality rate did not reach more than 50%. In cages, the offer of treatments and the experimental conditions were the same as described in the bioassay on the effect of toxic baits on F. arisanus. In the F1 generation of the toxic bait bioassay for the control of fruit flies on F. arisanus, the parasitism percentage among treatments with offspring did not show any significant differences. Therefore, the sublethal effect of different pesticides on an organism depends on several factors, such as type of formulation, doses, ways in which the insect was exposed, and development stage. As moscas-das-frutas da família Tephritidae estão entre as pragas invasoras de culturas importantes, causam repercussões desde sua fase latente, causando danos econômicos diretos e necessitando de quarentena imposta por muitos países para neutralizar sua entrada. O controle biológico de moscas-das-frutas utilizando parasitoides da ordem Hymenoptera tem recebido maior atenção e é considerado um método de controle promissor no manejo integrado de pragas de tefritídeos. As dietas para alimentação de parasitoides são de grande importância e podem variar desde uma simples solução de açúcar até alimentos nutricionalmente completos, mas o efeito do tipo de açúcar pode variar entre os parasitoides