Biological traits of a Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Mexican population on the host Drosophila suzukii

Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera Pteromalidae), a pupal ectoparasitoid, is considered a potential candidate for the biological control of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). To get a cost-effectively mass rearing under lab conditions, in this study, several life parameters of this parasitoid were assessed using D. suzukii pupae as host. In addition, the influence of D. suzukii pupal age on parasitism and sex ratio of P. vindemiae offspring was evaluated. Females started laying eggs when they were 0.12-d-old (= 3-h-old) and the number of eggs increased significantly when they were 0.5-d-old (= 12-h-old), with a pre-oviposition period less than 4 d after adult emergence. The maximum oviposition activity and parasitoid emergence were observed when females were very young (between 3-11-d-old for fecundity and 3-d-old for parasitoid emergence). The P. vindemiae survival rate and longevity were significantly higher in females than in males. Pupae of 48-h- and 96-h-old were significantly more parasitized than those of 24-h- and 72-h-old. The sex ratio of P. vindemiae adults was not affected by host age. We discuss the importance of the different life traits of P. vindemiae studied, especially its successful development in pupae of different ages of D. suzukii, to design a biological control strategy against this pest.