Biology of the flower bud fly of the Passion Fruit Dasiops inedulis (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) in Valle del Cauca
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Abstract
The bud fly, Dasiops sp. (Diptera: Lonchaeidae), has been implicated in the loss of Passion Fruit buds causing economic damage in the Cauca Valley (Colombia). The objectives of this study were to identify those species of Daslops which attack Passion Fruit buds, to evaluate the damage, to study the life cycle, and to survey the natural enemies of the most abundant species. Samples were taken from 16 Passion Fruit crops in the Valle del Cauca Department and only D. inedulis Steyskal was found feeding on the buds. Infestation percentages were between 21 %and 65%. Buds of 1-3 cm were found to be most frequently infested. In the laboratory, the life cycle of D. inedulis was completed in 22.8 days. Adult longevity was 5.9 days in the field, four times longer than in the laboratory. Sex ratio was 1:1, bur neither mating nor oviposition was observed in captivity. The pest's life cycle was found to be related to bud development. Six species of natural enemies for D. inedulis were detected: two parasites of the genus Opius (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and four predators: Zelus rubidus Lethierry Severyn and Zelus sp. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and two spiders (Araneida: Thomisidae).
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