Paving the Way for Rearing Closterocerus coffeellae: Effect of Adult Food Source and Oviposition Behavior in Leucoptera coffeella

Abstract

Closterocerus coffeellae Ihering (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a parasitoid with potential for application in biocontrol programs of the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). Establishing a rearing method for this species is a crucial step in the development of new biological agent control strategies. The study evaluated various food sources to assess adult survival and examined the oviposition behavior of C. coffeellae on its host under laboratory conditions. Adult survival bioassays were conducted using the following food sources: a 10% honey solution (diluted in distilled water), Hibiscus sp. nectar, an artificial diet (water, agar, ascorbic acid, Nipagin, and honey), and a control treatment (no feeding). In the oviposition behavior bioassay, females with and without oviposition experience were selected and offered L. coffeella hosts of three sizes (2, 4, and 6 mm) for oviposition. Adult survival varied among females and males and among the food sources. Males exhibited higher survival rates when fed the artificial diet, whereas females demonstrated greater survival when offered the honey (10%). Females without oviposition experience exhibited the lowest number of searching events and the highest searching time on 4-mm mines, whereas experienced females showed a lower number of searching events and longer searching time when exposed to 6-mm mine. Under laboratory conditions, the females successfully punctured their hosts. The results of this study may be helpful the development basis for the development of a C. coffeellae rearing method that is suitable for implementation in biocontrol programs.