Richard M. Baranowski

Biological control of the Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Parasitic Hymenoptera were introduced into Florida in an attempt to bring the Caribbean fruit fly (caribfly) under biological control. A total of 15 species of parasites from 4 families were imported. Twelve species were released, 9 have been recovered in the field, and 5 are considered established. These coexist with both endemic fruit fly parasites and generalist species, which serendipitously attack caribfly. Inundative releases of the braconid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) to control caribfly are presently being tested by USDA/ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Division of Plant Industry. It is hypothesized that releases of parasites will augment numbers of natural enemies during periods when wasps are relatively uncommon due to difficulties in host finding. The lower numbers of flies that may result could be important in creating and maintaining fly-free zones. A renewed interest in the biological control of fruit flies promises future explorations for new natural enemies and novel means of employing them.

Evaluation of protein bait formulations for the Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Laboratory and field trials were conducted to determine the preference of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), for aqueous formulations of the protein bait NuLure@? and standard torula yeast plus sodium borate (HTY-borax) pellets. Addition of 1-10% borax to 10% NuLure solution increased bait pH, and this increase was directly correlated with increase in number of female flies trapped in two-choice laboratory bioassays and in field trials conducted in three locations in south Florida during the spring of 1992. Overall, significantly more flies were attracted to volatiles from HTY-borax solution than to volatiles from any of the NuLure solutions. There was variation in the response of flies to baits observed among the three test locations. Age structures of the populations at the different locations were compared by determining the percentage of females mated among the trapped females. There were significant differences in the percentage of mated females at the 3 locations, which ranged from 26-65% mated. In the locations with a high percentage of unmated female flies, the flies were less discriminating, at least among the protein baits offered in this study. Thus, age structure of the target population may alter response to bait. There was also variation in the pH of the baits at different locations due to the pH of the water used to prepare the solutions. Bait pH may be a significant factor that has been overlooked in field tests conducted at different locations or at different times as changes in water pH, as well as bait protein pH, may strongly affect trap efficacy.

Records of Trichospilus diatraeae, an Asian parasite (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from the Caribbean and Florida

Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian and Margabandhu (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an Asian parasite of the pupae of graminaceous stem borers [Chilo spp. and Sesamia spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)]. Consignments from India were shipped to the USA and to Trinidad in 1963 for laboratory trials against Diatraea spp. which are serious pests of sugarcane in the New World (Rao et al. 1971). Emergence from consignments to the USA, sent to the USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insects Introduction Laboratory, Moorestown, N.J., was very poor and no tests or releases were undertaken (R. Dysart, USDAARS-BIRL, Newark, DE, personal communication, 1986). In Trinidad choice tests with material from India, carried out under quarantine, indicated that adults of this gregarious parasite did not discriminate between Diatraea pupae and puparia of the beneficial tachinid flies Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) and Paratheresia claripalpis (Wulp) (Bennett 1965). Therefore, cultures were destroyed without making any field releases. Tests undertaken in Barbados in 1963-1964 confirmed the Trinidad results and no releases were made at that time. However, this parasite was again imported from India into Barbados in 1972 (Alam & Gibbs 1985) against other lepidopterous pests, including Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Noctuidae). There were also reports (Cock 1985) of the introduction of a second species, Trichospilus pupivora Ferriere, against the same group of pests and this has lead to confusion as to which species is now present in Barbados. Establishment under the name T. pupivora was reported by Ingram (1981), Alam (1979), and Cock (1985), whereas Bennett and Alam (1985) listed the species as T. diatraeae and Alam and Gibbs (1985) also used this name. Both names represent valid species which are distinctive and can be readily separated (see Boucek 1976). In 1984, one of us (M.Y.) reared T. diatraeae from a noctuid pupa (possibly S. frugiperda) collected among rice stubble at Caroni, Trinidad. On May 3, 1985, one of us (H.G.) collected 48 pupae of Epimecis detexta (Walker), a geometrid pest of avocado, from a commercial grove in Dade Co., Florida; 2 of these yielded adults of T. diatraeae

The Occurrence of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in the West Indies and New Lygaeidae Records for the Turks and Caicos Islands of Providenciales and North Caicos

A breeding population of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa) is reported for the first time from the West Indies. Its distribution is discussed and information to distinguish it from other closely related species is given. Several additional lygaeids are reported for the first time from the islands of North Caicos and Providenciales.

Distribution of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)and Its Prey, Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) within Eggplants in South Florida

The distribution of the predacious mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and its prey, Thrips palmi Karny, was studied in eggplant plots in Homestead, Florida. Neoseiulus cucumeris was more abundant on fruits (X = 3.39 ± 0.20) than on leaves (X = 0.95 ± 0.16) and it was not found in the flowers. Thrips palmi was more abundant on the leaves (X = 17.97 ± 5.07) than on the fruits (X = 3.22 ± 0.70) and flowers (X = 0.93 ± 0.03). Predacious mite populations on the fruits and leaves increased with T. palmi populations increase. Both predator and prey populations were low on the youngest leaf (X predator = 0.00 ± 0.00; X prey = 1.75 ± 0.28) and high on the oldest leaf (X predator = 1.92 ± 0.79; X prey = 50.83 ± 11.64). Neoseiulus cucumeris and T. palmi were more abundant on the adaxial surface of the leaf (X N. cucumeris = 1.58 ± 0.56; X T. palmi = 42.77 ± 8.29). Predators aggregated mostly on the adaxial base of the midrib vein. The fourth leaf is recommended for population sampling studies because the predators aggregate at the base of the adaxial midrib and T. palmi population levels are not extreme on that leaf.

Temperature Response of Two Strains of Ceranisus menes (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Reared on Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The development response to temperature of a Japanese uniparental strain and a Thai biparental strain of Ceranisus menes (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was studied. The parasitoids were reared on first instar Thrips palmi larvae in incubators at constant temperatures of 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29C. Total developmental time decreased with the increase of temperature from 35.1 to 21.9 days in females and from 33.4 to 18.8 days in males. Lowest mortality (12%) was recorded in both strains at 23C and highest (95%) in the Japanese strain at 29C. Seventy-three percent of the Thai parasitoids survived at 29C, but 39% mortality was observed at 21C. Percent parasitism ranged from 23.8 to 28.9% at 25-29C, but decreased to 11.5% at 21C. The sex ratio (male:female) was not affected by temperature and averaged 1:1.9. A thermal constant of 500 degree-days and a developmental threshold of 8C (from egg to adult emergence) were obtained for both Japanese and Thai females. For the Thai males, the thermal constant was 333.3 degree-days and the minimum threshold was 13.7C.

The lygaeidae of the Cayman Islands with the description of a new species of ochrimnus (Hemiptera)

A key to the 50 species known from the Cayman Islands is provided, brief descriptions are given and the origin and relationships of the lygaeid fauna are discussed. A new species is described and new synonymy is presented.

A Review of the Genus Cistalia Stal

A key to the 5 species of Cistalia Stal (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) is presented. Cistalia signoreti Guerin, previously known only from Cuba, is recorded from Florida, U.S.A. and is also widely distributed in South America. C. binotata n. sp. and C. neotropicalis n. sp. are described.

A New Species of Bromeliad Lygaeid from Jamaica

A new species of Ozophora from Jamaica, West Indies is described and figured. The immature stages are also described. This species appears to be restricted to mature seed heads of bromeliads in the genus Hohenbergia. This restricted habitat is unusual since most species in the Rhyparochrominae are litter insects that feed upon fallen seeds on the ground.

A New Genus and Species of Turtle Bug from Southern Florida (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

A new genus and species (Neapodops floridanus) of turtle bug are described from Everglades National Park, Florida.