Attacks the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in the Guatemalan Highlands

A braconid parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), was released from the air into Guatemalan coVee plantations that contained Mediterranean fruit ¯ ies, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann). Parasitoid adults were chilled, placed in paper bags, and dropped from an altitude of 100 m and at an airspeed of ~ 130 km /h. Releases were made at four diVerent densities over a period of two years. At the higher release rates parasitism levels reached as high as 84%. The feasibility of using a more technically sophisticated aerial release technique, the auger sterile-insect release machine utilized in C. capitata sterile- ¯ y aerial eradication projects in California and Florida, was also examined. Chilled D. tryoni either alone or in combination with chilled, sterile C. capitata, were dropped over target areas and the released parasitoids examined for mortality and damage. Samples of released parasitoids were taken and tested for ` ¯ ight ability ’ ; i.e. ¯ ight response after an opportunity to recover from chilling. There was no evidence of signi ® cant mortality due to aerial release, and the ¯ ight-ability of insects released at various rates and altitudes did not signi ® cantly diVer from chilled controls that were not released from an airplane