Color Preference of Three Parasitoids Imported to the Americas for the Biological Control of the Coffee Berry Borer (Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The African parasitoids Cephalonomia stephanoderis Waterston (Bethylidae: Hymenoptera), Prorops nasuta Betrem (Bethylidae: Hymenoptera), and Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Eulophidae: Hymenoptera) are biological control agents of the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In this study, we investigated in laboratory the female behavioral responses of these parasitoids to 14 different wavelengths (340–670 nm) against a control (570 nm, yellow). When nonchooser females were included in the analysis, none parasitoids species showed a preference between 340, 350, 370, 460, 490, 520, 540, 590, 640, and 650 nm with respect to the control wavelength. In contrast, the three species of parasitoids were more attracted to wavelengths of 380, 400, and 420 nm than the control wavelength. Phymastichus coffea and P. nasuta were more attracted to the wavelength of 400 and 420 nm compared to C. stephanoderis. At 380 nm, P. coffea and C. stephanoderis wasps showed the higher responses in comparison to P. nasuta females. When nonchooser wasps were excluded from the analysis, we observed other differences among the parasitoid species. For instance, P. coffea were more attracted to 490–540 nm than to 570 nm, whereas the bethylids did not discriminate between 490–540 nm or 570 nm. Our results are discussed in relation to possible implications associated with the vision of these parasitoid species.

Retracted: Abridged Life Tables for Cephalonomia stephanoderis and Prorops nasuta (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) Parasitoids of Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Reared on Artificial Diet

Biological aspects and demographic parameters of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and Prorops nasuta Waterston (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) parasitoids of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) were investigated using diet-reared CBB hosts. Developmental time from eggs to adults, oviposition, and postoviposition period were comparable for both parasitoids. However, P. nasuta had a considerably longer preoviposition and longevity period averaging 17.3 and 63.1 d, respectively. The reproductive rate for C. stephanoderis was 46.1 daughters per female with a mean generation time of 47.4 d, whereas P. nasuta had a reproductive rate of 18.3 daughters per female in a mean time of 58.6 d. Oviposition behavior was also different with C. stephanoderis typically ovipositing on CBB prepupae and pupae, while P. nasuta preferred prepupae and second-instar CBB larvae. An abridged cohort life table for both parasitoids was constructed for growth rates estimations.

Parasitismo na população da broca-do-café Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), pelo parasitoide Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

A broca-do-café, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) é responsável por grandes prejuízos em plantios de café, causando perdas de produtividade aos cafeicultores e danos quantitativos e qualitativos aos grãos. O controle biológico da praga tem sido principalmente à base de fungos entomopatogênicos. Em Rondônia, Brasil, as informações acerca dos parasitoides de H. hampei são escassas. O parasitoide Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem é um inimigo natural da broca do café e já é utilizado como agente de controle biológico em países da África e da América Latina. Constatou-se a presença desse parasitoide em cafezais de Rondônia. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os níveis de ocorrência e parasitismo do parasitóide em uma plantação de café no município de Ouro Preto D’Oeste, Estado de Rondônia. Foram analisados semanalmente frutos de café coletados diretamente das plantas e caídos sobre o solo, de janeiro a dezembro de 2004. Observou-se a ocorrência do parasitoide durante os meses de maior infestação da praga. Durante o período estudado, a taxa de parasitismo nos diferentes microambientes variou de 2 a 24%. Parasitism in the Population of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) by the Parasitoid Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) Abstract. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) attacks coffee plantations, greatly decreasing the production of coffee plants, causing quantitative and qualitative damage to the grains. Biological control of this pest has focused mostly on entomopathogenic fungi. In the state of Rondonia, studies on parasitism levels of the parasitoids of H. hampei are scarce. The parasitoid Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem is a natural enemy of the coffee berry borer and is already used as an agent of biological control in countries of Africa and Latin America. The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and parasitism levels of the parasitoid in a coffee plantation in the municipality of Ouro Preto D’Oeste, State of Rondonia. Coffee beans collected directly from the plants and on the ground were analyzed weekly from January to December 2004. Parasitoid occurred in months of the highest pest infestation. During the studied period, parasitism rate in different microenvironments ranged from 2 to 24%.

Effect of Pollen Feed on Parasitization and Predatism of Cephalonomia stephanoderis onHypothenemus hampei

Biological control of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei)using parasitoid Cephalonomia stephanoderishas been developed through the improvement of the parasitoid role may using pollens as feed source. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cover crop and weed pollens on parasitization and predatism of C. stephanoderis.The applied treatments were pollens of Turnera ulmifolia, Arachis pintoi, Ageratum conyzoidesadded in glass tube that consist of 10 CBB pupaes and a mated female of C. stephanoderis. Number of pupae parasitized and pupae preyed were observed. The result showed that addition of A. Pintoi pollen increased the number of pupae parasitized at 135% whereas addition of T. ulmifolia and A. conyzoides pollens did not affect parasitization of C. Stephanoderis. The predatismof C. stephanoderiswas higher than parasitization to pupae of H. hampei which showed that the behavior of C. stephanoderiswas parasitization. Addition of T. ulmifolia, A. pintoi, and A. conyzoidespollens increased the number of pupae predatism at 132%, 102%, and 225%, respectively. Key words: Ageratum conyzoides, Arachis pintoi, Cephalonomia stephanoderis, Hypothenemus hampei,parasitization, predatism, pollens, Turnera ulmifolia

Recent occurrence of Aphanogmus dictynna (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) in Kenya — an important hyperparasitoid of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The ceraphronid wasp Aphanogmus dictynna (Waterston) was recently recorded in error as an undescribed species of Aphanogmus. This species is a primary parasitoid on larvae and cocoons of the bethylid Prorops nasuta Waterston, and probably a second bethylid species, Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem. Both bethylids are primary parasitoids, and important biological control agents, of larvae and pupae of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari). New host and distribution records are provided for A. dictynna, as well as a diagnosis and comments on its taxonomic relationships.