The Uzi fly,
Exorista bombycis (louis), is a destructive endoparasitoid that leads to considerable losses in silkworm crops, with damage levels reaching around 20% during the rainy season, 11-15% in winter, and 1-3% in summer. In sericulture, reducing chemical pesticide use is essential because even low levels of toxicity can harm silkworm health and lower silk yield. An eco-friendly alternative for managing this pest is the parasitoid
Nesolynx thymus (Girault), a member of the family Eulophidae (order Hymenoptera). This species is known for its short life cycle, high parasitization capacity, efficient host detection, and ability to adapt well to both laboratory and field environments, making it suitable for large-scale production.
N. thymus targets the pupae of nearly all Uzi fly species, including Blepheripa zebina and Exorista phillipinensis. Its mass production involves two steps: first rearing housefly (Musca domestica) pupae, followed by rearing N. thymus on these pupae. During parasitization, gravid females exhibit distinct behavioral patterns as they oviposit within the pupae of E. bombycis. Factors such as host pupal size, age, and exposure time greatly influence parasitoid development and efficiency. Optimizing these host-related parameters can improve the effectiveness of N. thymus in pest control programs and support its use as a sustainable management tool against the Uzi fly.
