Augmentative Biological Control as a Workable Strategy Within an Area-Wide Integrated Fruit Fly Management Approach: Case Studies from Mexico and Argentina

Augmentative release of parasitoids is a suitable strategy to control fruit fly populations. Parasitoid release is relevant because it may be used strategically to integrate with other control methods. Augmentative Biological Control (ABC) aims to release high densities of mass produced into an area to suppress the population growth rate of the target fruit fly species. In Latin America, there are several examples of ABC against Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and against species of the Neotropical genus Anastrepha Schiner. The introduced parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) is the main species used in ABC programs. Successful outcomes have been achieved in Mexico and central-western Argentina by D. longicaudata mass releases. In “BioPlanta San Juan,” Argentina, D. longicaudata is mass reared on larvae of C. capitata Vienna-8 (tsl) strain. This parasitoid is released in irrigated semiarid fruit-growing valleys. On the contrary to Mexico, D. longicaudata is mass produced on larvae of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) at the biofactory of the Fruit Fly National Program to release it over larger subtropical areas. Post-release data have shown higher values than 50% of host mortality. This chapter provides particular information on the use of biological control, within the area-wide program in environmentally distinguishable regions. Advantages, social problems, and their relation with costs are also discussed.