Floral resources enhance fitness of the parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) but not biological control of its host Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

The diet of adult parasitoid wasps is vital for their survival and reproduction. However, the availability of food resources, such as plant nectar, can vary widely in cropping systems, potentially affecting parasitoid fitness and thereby biological control of pests. The egg parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a potential biological control agent of the pistachio pest Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

Diet quality influences nutrient retention and reproductive fitness of the biocontrol agent Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae).

Diet can have a direct influence on the reproductive success of parasitoid wasps. For synovigenic parasitoids, the nutrients obtained from floral resources, such as nectar and pollen, play a vital role in fueling bodily functions and physiological energy expenditure incurred from reproduction. Insufficient access to nutrient-rich diets can lead to lower rates of reproductive fitness, therefore reducing the efficacy of biocontrol.

Food deprivation alters reproductive performance of biocontrol agent Hadronotus pennsylvanicus.

Diet can influence parasitoid reproductive performance, and therefore, the efficacy of biocontrol programs. We evaluated the influence of food deprivation on the reproductive fitness and behavior of the egg parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a prospective biocontrol agent for Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae). Newly emerged female parasitoids were mated and provided host eggs every other day while being provisioned with various honey diet regimes or a consistent supply of water.

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

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.