Disentangling thermal effects using life cycle simulation modelling on the biology and demographic parameters of Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris, a parasitoid of Tuta absoluta

Abstract

Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Syn. Apanteles gelechiidivoris) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a konoibiont larval endoparasitoid of the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), was imported into Kenya in 2017 for the first classical biological control of T. absoluta in Africa. We determined the thermal thresholds of D. gelechiidivoris, with T. absoluta as host, using life cycle simulation modelling. Life-table data of D. gelechiidivoris were generated at six constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, and 12L: 12D photoperiod). Multiple non-linear functions were fitted to model some aspects of the biology of the parasitoid, including its longevity, mortality, reproduction, and senescence using Insect Life Cycle Modelling (ILCYM) software. The phenology models established were used to estimate life table parameters. Except at 35 °C, D. gelechiidivoris completed its development (i.e., egg-larval-pupa-adult) at all tested temperatures. The minimum temperature threshold from egg to cocoon was 7.0 °C and 5.9 °C from cocoon to adult wasp, while the maximum temperature thresholds were 34 °C and 36 °C, respectively. The optimal temperature for immature survival was 20–25 °C, while fecundity was optimum at 22.5 °C, with 69.5 eggs per female. Simulations of the population growth parameters indicated that the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was maximum at 20 °C with 15 daughters per female per generation. Based on our findings the release of D. gelechiidivoris for inoculative augmentation in countries with temperatures ranging between 15 and 30 °C could be considered to control the pest.