INTERACCIONES TRÓFICAS ENTRE Eretmocerus eremicus (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE) Y Trialeurodoes vaporariorum (HEMIPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) EN TOMATE Y PIMENTÓN.

Understanding multitrophic interactions between parasitoids, pests, and host plants is important for the development of agro-ecological management alternatives that enhance the restoration of ecosystem functions. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the influence of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum; cv. Moneymaker) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum; cv. Goldenwonder and cv. Yolowonder) on the fitness and parasitisation of the Eretmocerus eremicus attacking Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Parasitoid size, as measured by hind tibia length, was correlated with host pupae size as a fitness indicator. No significant cultivar effect was observed on the longevity of the emerged parasitoids, on the rate of emergence and on immature mortality. However, the host plants did influence development time (days) and sex ratio of the parasitoids. The population growth rate of the parasitoids was observed to be higher than that of T. vaporariorum. T. vaporariorum, feeding on the tomato cv. Moneymaker and the sweet pepper cv. Goldenwonder, was an equally suitable host for Er. eremicus specimens, which makes this parasitoid a promising biocontrol agent in a tomato/sweet pepper mix-cultivation system.