Effect of the Sterile Insect Technique and Augmentative Parasitoid Releases in a Fruit Fly Suppression Program in Mango-Producing Areas of Southeast Mexico

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The integrated use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Augmentative Biological Control (ABC) in the management of fruit fly pest populations has been theoretically proposed to generate a synergistic effect. In a control program against the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), the combined application of the SIT and ABC was evaluated in mango orchards. The release of parasitoids alone increased parasitism percentages from 0.59 to 19.38%, and the application of the SIT reduced the FTD index (Flies per Trap per Day) by 30%. The concurrent application of both techniques resulted in about 98% suppression in the fly population. These results justify the use of both techniques in fruit fly area-wide pest management programs. ABSTRACT: The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), by means of sterile male releases of Anastrepha ludens (Loew), coupled with Augmentative Biological Control (ABC), by releasing the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), was evaluated in a commercial mango production area for one year. The obtained results were compared with mean fruit fly population values from two previous years without the combined use of both techniques. The treatments were: SIT + ABC, SIT, ABC, and Control, and each treatment was established in blocks of 5000 Ha separated by distances of 5–10 km. The evaluations were carried out through fruit sampling to assess percent parasitism and trapping of adult flies to obtain Flies per Trap per Day (FTD) values. The mean percentage of parasitism increased from 0.59% in the control treatment to 19.38% in the block with ABC. The FTD values decreased from ~0.129 and ~0.012 in the control block to 0.0021 in the block with SIT and ABC, representing a 98% suppression. The difference between the two periods in the control block was not significant. We conclude that the integration of both techniques resulted in an additive suppression of the pest population, supporting the use of both control techniques in an area-wide pest management context.