Two Better Than One? Potential Effects of Intraguild Predation on the Biological Control of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) by the Parasitoid Aganaspis daci (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the Predator Pseudoophonus rufipes (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The use of more than one species to manage a single insect pest is common practice among biological control programs. However, the beneficial effects natural enemies are not always additive, which in many cases may be attributed interspecific interactions such as intraguild predation (IGP). Herein, we investigated potential IGP between two relevant Medfly (Ceratitis capitata), predator Pseudoophonus rufipes and parasitoid Aganaspis daci, well possible implications this phenomenon their efficiency biocontrol agents. To end, assessed functional responses different demographic parameters when acting alone together against C. capitata under laboratory conditions. Coexistence led switch response both species, from type III II A. daci opposite P. rufipes. Regarding parameters, coexistence resulted higher parasitoidism population reduction by only at low host densities, probably due competition pressure. In same circumstances, reduced its predatory activity, rejecting those larvae that were presumably parasitized causing negligible IGP. At high decreased, encounter probability enhanced activity As result these trends, reached almost 100% all suggests an additive effect recommends combined releases agents strategy for Medfly.