Abundance and host associations of parasitoids attacking frugivorous drosophilids on Iriomote-jima, a subtropical island of Japan

Research on Iriomote-jima, a subtropical UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals complex coevolutionary interactions between frugivorous drosophilid flies and their parasitoids. The study identified 15 drosophilid and 12 parasitoid species, with three Drosophila species (D. bipectinata, D. albomicans, D. takahashii) dominating banana baits. Parasitism varied seasonally and annually, with Asobara japonica, A. pleuralis, Leptopilina ryukyuensis, and L. pacifica being the most frequent parasitoids. Laboratory experiments confirmed species-specific host associations, suggesting long-standing coevolutionary dynamics. The study highlights that host abundance influences parasitoid host use evolution, providing insights into ecological interactions in subtropical ecosystems.

NOVKOVIĆ, B., OIKAWA, A., MURATA, Y., MITSUI, H., & KIMURA, M. T. (2012). Abundance and host associations of parasitoids attacking frugivorous drosophilids on Iriomote-jima, a subtropical island of Japan. European Journal of Entomology, 109(4), 517–526. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2012.065