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Title: Consideration of Eurytoma Sivinskii Gates and Grissell, a Eurytomid (Hymenoptera) with unusual foraging behaviours, as a biological control agent of Tephritid (Diptera) fruit flies

Author
item MENA-CORREA, J. - ZALAPA, MEXICO
item SIVINSKI, J. - GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
item RAMIREZ-ROMERO, R. - ZALAPA, MEXICO
item Gates, Michael
item ALUJA, M. - Institute De Ecologia - Mexico
item CORDOVA-GARCIA, G. - Institute De Ecologia - Mexico

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2009
Publication Date: 2/28/2010
Citation: Mena-Correa, J., Sivinski, J., Ramirez-Romero, R., Gates, M.W., Aluja, M., Cordova-Garcia, G. 2010. Consideration of Eurytoma Sivinskii Gates and Grissell, a Eurytomid (Hymenoptera) with unusual foraging behaviours, as a biological control agent of Tephritid (Diptera) fruit flies. Biological Control. 53(1):9-17.

Interpretive Summary: Fruit flies are one of the most economically important crop pests in Central and South America where they infest important tropical fruits. This paper details the oviposition behavior and demography of a recently described parasitic wasp discovered in Mexico that has a beneficial impact for biocontrol of pestiferous fruit flies. It provides information on the wasp’s behavior, parasitization rates and life expectancy. This information will be useful to scientists and biocontrol workers involved in the biocontrol of pestiferous fruit flies in the Neotropics.

Technical Abstract: The oviposition behavior and demography of Eurytoma sivinskii Gates and Grissell, a parasite of pestiferous fruit flies (Tephritidae), is documented. The burrowing behavior during host-seeking is reported for Eurytoma for the first time. Demographic and host location information is also presented.