THE BIONOMICS OF COPTERA-HAYWARDI (OGLOBLIN) (HYMENOPTERA, DIAPRIIDAE) AND OTHER PUPAL PARASITOIDS OF TEPHRITID FRUIT-FLIES (DIPTERA)

The endoparasitoid Coptera haywardi (Ogloblin) (Diapriidae) was discov ered in Mexico attacking the pupae of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastreph a ludens (Loew). Typically, parasitoids of Diptera Cychlorrhapha pupae develop as ectoparasitoids and are generalists that attack hosts in a number of families. Aspects of the bionomics of C. haywardi were comp ared to those of two chalcidoid ectoparasitoids, Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood and Spalangia gemina Boucek. C. haywardi developed in three g enera of Tephritidae, but not in species of other families. The two sp ecies of chalcidoids developed in all the calypterate and acalypterate hosts to which they were exposed. In an olfactometer C. haywardi pref erred Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) pupae, while the chalcidoids preferre d the pupae of Musca domestica L. This preference in S. gemina was dim inished in insects that had been reared on A. suspensa. C. haywardi ov iposited in the A. suspensa pupae that had been previously parasitized by the braconid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead). However, it c ompleted development only in unparasitized pupae. Mortality of the pri mary parasitoid due to D. himalayanus was approximately two-thirds the mortality inflicted on the host fly. S. gemina did not discriminate b etween parasitized and unparasitized pupae of A. suspensa and develope d in both. C. haywardi appears to have a more restricted host range re lative to chalcidoid pupal parasitoids and this may be due to its endo parasitic development. (C) 1998 Academic Press.