Parasitoids of medfly, Ceratitis capitata, and related tephritids in Kenyan coffee: a predominantly koinobiont assemblage

Arabica coffee was sampled from two sites in the central highlands of Kenya (Rurima, Ruiru) and one site on the western side of the Rift Valley (Koru) . Three species of ceratitidine Tephritidae, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) , C. rosa Karsch and Trirhithrum coffeae Bezzi, were reared from sites in t he central highlands, and an additional species, C. anonae Graham, was reco vered from the western-most site. Ten species of parasitic Hymenoptera were reared from these tephritids. The parasitoid assemblage was dominated by k oinobionts. Eight of the species are koinobiont endoparasitoids, but only o ne idiobiont larval ectoparasitoid was reared, and only one idiobiont pupal endoparasitoid. The effects of sampling bias on determination of parasitoi d assemblage size associated with concealed hosts are discussed. The potent ial for use of these parasitoids in biological control is also discussed. M ost of the parasitoid species recovered during this study are capable of de veloping on C. capitata, while several also attack C. rosa. Both flies are notorious pests of tropical and subtropical fruits.