Social Wasp Predators of Tuta absoluta

摘要

The social Vespidae are important agents for biological control in agro-ecosystems and natural ecosystems. Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is the most important tomato pest in South America. This insect was introduced into Europe and the Mediterranean region of Africa, where it has caused great damage. Despite the importance of Vespidae, little is known about their activity as predators of pest insects. Thus, this study aimed to determine the importance of social Vespidae as predators of 77 absoluta, to study the influence of climatic elements on their foraging activity, to establish techniques for sampling, and to study their predation behavior. The main predators of 77 absoluta larvae were the social Vespidae, which preyed mainly caterpillars of the third and fourth instars. The social Vespidae predators of 77 absoluta larvae were: Brachygastra lecheguana, Protopolybia exigua, Polybia ignobilis, Polybia scutellaris, Protonectarina sylveirae, Polybia fastidiosuscula and Synoecacyanea. P. scutellaris and P. sylveirae were the most abundant ones. The social Vespidae showed predation activity from 2 to 11 hours after sunrise, Predation of 77 absolute by Vespidae involved the behavior of locating the plant, locating of mines in the leaves, identification of mines with caterpillars, opening the mines, catching the caterpillars, transporting of caterpillars and body cleansing.