Diversity of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with tephritids (Diptera) parasitising cucurbits in two agroecological zones of Cameroon, Central Africa

Authors

  • Didi Gaelle Mokam Department of Biological Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9714-6425
  • Champlain Djiéto-Lordon Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • LEONARD SIMON NGAMO TINKEU Department of Biological Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
  • Pascal Rousse Unité insectes et plantes invasives, Anses-LSV, Montpellier, France.
  • Gérard Delvare Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP) CIRAD, INRA, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
  • Charles Félix Bilong Bilong Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a17053

Keywords:

parasitoid hymenoptera, Dacus spp., biological control, Braconidae, Koinobiont, Psyttalia perproxima, Cucurbits

Abstract

Many parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) parasitise tephritids (Diptera), but little is known about the influence of host plants on this parasitism in sub-Saharan Africa. From June 2008 to January 2011, a study was conducted at three localities in two agroecological zones of Cameroon (Central Africa): Ngoa-Ekelé and Olembé (Southern Plateau) and Koutaba (Western Highlands), to assess the guild of parasitoids and their parasitism on tephritids attacking cucurbits. Data were collected on 3 249 fruits attacked of nine cucurbit species, from which were identified: 45 575 tephritids belonging to four species (Dacus bivittatus, D. ciliatus, D. punctatifrons, and D. vertebratus) and 3 330 parasitoids belonging to four families and 11 species of Hymenoptera. Most of the parasitoids collected were solitary koinobionts (mainly Braconidae - Opiinae (> 50%) and Eulophidae). The parasitism rate varied significantly between the localities (p < 0.001), with the lowest value obtained in Koutaba (4.98 ± 0.68%) and Ngoa-Ekelé (9.68 ± 0.54%), areas characterised by high agricultural activity and urbanisation respectively, and the highest in Olembé (23.93 ± 1.80%), a more natural area. Psyttalia perproxima and Tetrastichus dacicida were numerically abundant in all three localities, followed by Fopius spp. and Phaenocarpa sp. in Olembé. Regardless of the study localities, D. bivittatus and D. ciliatus were dominant and were parasitised by most of the parasitoids. Species richness and parasitism rates were higher on Cucurbita moschata fruits, while no parasitoid emerged from Sechium edule fruits. From a biological control perspective, the tephritid-parasitoid association was species-rich and included many potential tephritid biological control agents.

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Cover images supplied by Graham Holloway: A review of the Attagenus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) species from South Africa and an image-based key to identification by Graham Holloway, Tara, Marcin - https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/16250

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2024-12-08

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Mokam DG, Djiéto-Lordon C, NGAMO TINKEU LS, Rousse P, Delvare G, Bilong Bilong CF. Diversity of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with tephritids (Diptera) parasitising cucurbits in two agroecological zones of Cameroon, Central Africa. Afr. Entomol. [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 8 [cited 2025 Apr. 24];32. Available from: https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/17053