Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritoidea) and Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) Associated with Native Fruit Trees in the Chaco Biome.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritoidea) are the main pests over important fruits and vegetables. In this research was evaluated the tritrophic interactions of fruit flies and their parasitoids occurring in native fruits in the Chaco Biome. Fruit sampling was carried out monthly in three areas of vegetation communities in Chaco Biome: Forested Steppic Savanna, Wooded Steppic Savanna, Park Steppic Savanna, Porto Murtinho-MS, Brazil, from April 3, 2017, to November 16, 2018 (totaling 20 samples). Fruits of 33 plant species were examined for fruit flies and parasitoids from these three Chaco locations. Sixteen species of fruit plants were infested by 11 species of fruit flies: five species of Anastrepha Schiner (Tephritidae): Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi, Anastrepha turpiniae Stone, Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi, and six of Neosilba McAlpine (Lonchaeidae): Neosilba bifida Strikis and Prado, Neosilba certa (Walker), Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann), Neosilba inesperata Strikis and Prado, Neosilba pendula (Bezzi), Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine and Steyskal. Three species of parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepliget) and Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (Braconidae) parasitized Anastrepha spp., and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Figitidae) parasitized Neosilba spp. All fruit flies and parasitoid species reported here are new records for the Chaco Biome. Furthermore, the following trophic associations are new records worldwide: Anastrepha obliqua in Sideroxylon obtusifolium; Anastrepha zenildae, Neosilba inesperata, and Neosilba zadolicha in Eugenia myrcianthes; Anastrepha fraterculus, Anastrepha sororcula, Neosilba pendula, and Neosilba inesperata in Campomanesia adamantium; Anastrepha spp. in Garcinia gardneriana and Agonandra brasiliensis.