Parasitoids of Fruit-Infesting Tephritidae

Diachasmimorpha dacusii (Cameron, 1906)

As noted by Wharton and Gilstrap (1983), this species is not distinguishable from Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on the basis of external morphology, but has been kept separate largely on the basis of an apparent preference for host tephritids breeding in cucurbits.

Known information is summarized in Clausen et al. 1965 and Wharton and Gilstrap (1983).

For additional information, see the Diachasmimorpha page.

Opius watersi Fullaway, 1951 is a synonym (Wharton and Gilstrap 1983).

Prior to 1987, most of the species of Diachasmimorpha, including this one, were placed either in Opius or Biosteres. Formally transferred to Diachasmimorpha in Wharton (1997).

Native

Borneo (Carter, W. 1952.)

India (Clancy, D. W.; Marucci, P. E.; Dresner, E. 1952.; Waterhouse, D. F. 1993.; Gilstrap, F. E. and Hart, W. G. 1987.; Kitthawee, S.; Julsilikul, D.; Sharpe, R. G.; Baimai, V. 1999.; Nishida, T. 1955.)

Uttar Pradesh (Fullaway, D. T. 1951.; Narayanan, E. S. and Chawla, S. S. 1962.)

Papua New Guinea (Fischer, M. 1971.)

Philippines (Ashmead, W. H. 1905.)

Sri Lanka (Cameron, P. 1906.; Clausen, C. P.; Clancy, D. W.; Chock, Q. C. 1965.; Waterhouse, D. F. 1993.; Gilstrap, F. E. and Hart, W. G. 1987.; Kitthawee, S.; Julsilikul, D.; Sharpe, R. G.; Baimai, V. 1999.)

Thailand (Chinajariyawong, A. ; Clarke, A. R. ; Jirasurat, M.; Kritsaneepiboon, S.; Lahey, H. A. ; Vijaysegaran, S.; Walter, G. H. 2000.; Kitthawee, S.; Singhapong, S.; Baimai, V. 2004.)

Introduced

Hawaii (Carter, W. 1952.; Marucci, P. E. 1952.)

Reared in the laboratory in Hawaii on the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae and medfly, Ceratitis capitata. The limited published information on hosts uses the name Opius watersi for this species.

Introduced to Hawaii, where it was propagated, released and recovered, but apparently not established (Clausen et al. 1965).