Abstract: 【Aim】This study aims to clarify the biological characteristics of the parasitoid wasp Asobara pleuralis from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, southwestern China (Banna population) and its potential for controlling Drosophila pests, providing a theoretical basis for establishing biological control strategies against the berry pests like D. suzukii.【Methods】Species identification of adult wasps emerged from Drosophila species collected from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, was conducted through molecular analysis of the COⅠ gene and observation of morphological characteristics. Under laboratory conditions, the morphological characteristics and duration of various developmental stages of the dentified parasitoid wasp were observed and recorded, the adult longevity was counted, and the oviposition rate, parasitism rate, wasp emergence rate and sex ratio (female to male ratio) of the parasitoid wasp were measured using the 2nd instar larvae of D. melanogaster as a host under varying parasitization duration (0.5, 1 and 2 h). Subsequently, the parasitic capabilities of this wasp against the 2nd instar larvae of nine different Drosophila species were further assessed.【Results】Integrated morphological and molecular identification confirmed the parasitoid species as A. pleuralis. Under the conditions of temperature (25±1) ℃, 50%±1% relative humidity and photoperiod of 16L∶8D, the egg, larval, female pupal and male pupal duration of A. pleuralis was (1.87±0.01), (4.39±0.02), (7.12±0.06) and (5.34±0.05) d, respectively, and the median survival time of female adults of A. pleuralis was 38 d, significantly longer than that of male adults (12 d). In a 2-h parasitism assay, A. pleuralis achieved the optimal parasitism efficacy against the 2nd instar larvae of D. melanogaster, with the oviposition rate, parasitism rate and wasp emergence rate reaching 100%, 100% and 81.17%±2.81%, respectively, which were higher than those observed in 0.5-h treatment group (92.50%±1.26%, 91.00%±0.88% and 64.17%±1.29%, respectively) and 1-h treatment group (100%, 97.84%±0.42% and 68.67%±1.42%, respectively). This optimal parasitization duration enabled A. pleuralis to efficiently parasitize various Drosophila pest species, including D. suzukii. The parasitism rates of A. pleuralis against the 2nd instar larvae of seven Drosophila host species exceeded 90%, with an impressive 97.56%±0.44% parasitism rate specifically against the 2nd instar larvae of D. suzukii.【Conclusion】A. pleuralis exhibits high parasitism efficiency against D. suzukii and possesses a broad host range. This study establishes the theoretical basis for developing a control system against D. suzukii based on multiple parasitoid releases, and provides technical support for mass rearing of A. pleuralis using productive host species.

Key words: Asobara pleuralis, Drosophila suzukii, biological characteristics, parasitism efficacy, biological control