Exploration for olive fruit fly parasitoids across Africa reveals regional distributions and dominance of closely associated parasitoids

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 6182
• Main Authors: Wang, Xingeng, Walton, Vaughn M., Hoelmer, Kim A., Pickett, Charles H., Blanchet, Arnaud, Straser, Robert K., Kirk, Alan A., Daane, Kent M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17-03-2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158/2178; 631/158/2458; Adaptation; Bactrocera oleae; Biological control; Climate; Dominance; Ecological adaptation; Exploration; Fruits; Herbivores; Humanities and Social Sciences; Interspecific relationships; Islands; multidisciplinary; Olives; Parasitoids; Pest control; Regions; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seasonal variations; South Africa; Canary Islands; Morocco; Kenya; Namibia; Spain
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85253-y

The olive fruit fly,
Bactrocera oleae
, has been a key pest of olives in Europe and North America. We conducted the largest exploration for parasitoids associated with the fly across Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa) including some of the fly’s adjoining regions (Canary Islands, Morocco, Réunion Island and Tunisia). From Sub-Saharan regions, four braconids were collected:
Bracon celer
,
Psytallia humilis, P. lounsburyi
, and
Utetes africanus
. Results showed that their regional dominance was related to climate niches, with
P. humilis
dominant in hot semi-arid areas of Namibia,
P. lounsburyi
dominant in more tropical areas of Kenya, and
U. africanus
prevalent in Mediterranean climates of South Africa.
Psytallia concolor
was found in the Canary Islands, Morocco and Tunisian, and the Afrotropical braconid
Diachasmimorpha
sp. near
fullawayi
on Réunion Island. Furthermore, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of the fly and parasitoids in Cape Province of South Africa. Results showed that fruit maturity, seasonal variations in climates and interspecific interactions shape the local parasitoid diversity that contribute to the low fly populations. The results are discussed with regard to ecological adaptations of closely associated parasitoids, and how their adaptations impact biocontrol.