Evaluating the host preference of the parasitoids Trichopoda pennipes and Cylindromyia euchenor (Diptera: Tachinidae) with Euschistus servus and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the host preference of the tachinid parasitoid flies Trichopoda pennipes (F.) and Cylindromyia euchenor (Walker) with the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), and the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). In choice and no-choice tests, T. pennipes laid significantly (P < 0.05) more eggs on N. viridula than E. servus. Trichopoda pennipes demonstrated no significant preference between genders of the same host species. Trichopoda pennipes pupae emerged only from N. viridula. In choice and no-choice tests, C. euchenor ignored N. viridula entirely, parasitizing only E. servus. These results suggest that T. pennipes may not be a frequent parasitoid of E. servus, while C. euchenor exhibits a strong preference for E. servus as a host. The behavior of each parasitoid species will be discussed.