Elsevier, Biological Control, 2(30), p. 149-155
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2004.03.003
Full text: Download
Bethylid wasps are primary parasitoids of coleopteran and lepidopteran pests of economic importance and have thus been deployed as biological control agents. We show that Cephalonomia hyalinipennis (Hym.: Bethylidae) is also a facultative hyperparasitoid of four other bethylid species: Cephalonomia stephanoderis and Prorops nasuta, natural enemies of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Col.: Scolytidae), and of Goniozus nephantidis and Goniozus legneri, which have been released against lepidopteran pests of coconuts and almonds, respectively. Conspecific and allospecific ovicide and larvicide are also observed, constituting intra-guild predation. Such trophic interactions have the potential to disrupt biological control in coffee, coconut, and almond agroecosystems.