Host suitability of three Trichopoda pennipes host strains field-collected from Nezara viridula, Anasa tristis, and Leptoglossus phyllopus with their associated phylogeny

Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) is a parasitoid used in the biological control of heteropteran pests and forms multiple host strains within the same geographical region. The purpose of this study was to determine if suitability and phylogenetic differences exist between three host strains field-collected from the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), squash bug, Anasa tristis (Hemiptera: Coreidae), and leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus (Hemiptera: Coreidae), in North Central Florida. Host body weights and parasitoid life history parameters were recorded to estimate host suitability. A phylogenic analysis was conducted on the mitogenomes of a subsample of the most selective flies from each host strain. Leptoglossus phyllopus was less suitable than N. viridula and A. tristis due to lighter host weights, lower survival, and lighter parasitoid pupae. These suitability differences may be reflected phylogenetically by the formation of a separate group of T. pennipes only from L. phyllopus. Further research on the physiological cause of these suitability differences is required to fully understand why host strains may retain preference for an apparently less suitable host.